12 Wing Commander

Colonel J.T.M. Willis, OMM, CD

Originally from Hull, Québec, Colonel (Col) Tara Willis is an Aerospace Engineer, having spent most of her career, at every rank, supporting the CH-124 Sea King and introducing the CH-148 Cyclone helicopters. At 12 Wing, she has led as the Operational Support Commander, Deputy 12 Wing Operations Officer, and later as the Commanding Officer of 12 Air Maintenance Squadron. In 2025, Col Willis was appointed as the 12 Wing Commander.

Within the Assistant Deputy Minister (Materiel), she served on the Maritime Helicopter Project, and as the Cyclone Aircraft Engineering Officer and Deputy Weapon System Manager. In 2022, she was Director of Aerospace Equipment and Project Management for the Maritime Fleets.

She has served as the Executive Assistant to the Chief of Programme and subsequently to the Vice Chief of the Defence Staff; and in 2023, was appointed Director of Defence Programme Coordination (DDPC).

Fulfilling her life-long dream of being a Canadian United Nations (UN) Peacekeeper, Col Willis deployed to South Sudan in 2016 as a Military Liaison Officer within United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), out on patrol every day to interact with key leaders and the population at large. Her role was to be the eyes and ears, and the face and voice of the UN on the ground. She returned to UN Peacekeeping for a year in 2021-2022 as the Canadian Task Force Commander of OP PRESENCE Mali, and the Chief of Information Operations for the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA). She was chosen to also lead Operations for almost half the year, coordinating the efforts of the largest and deadliest UN mission.

Col Willis holds an Honours Bachelor of Science (Physics and Space Science, with Psychology) from the Royal Military College; a Master of Engineering in Space Operations from the University of Colorado in Colorado Springs; and a Master of Defence Studies.

Col Willis and her service spouse are the proud parents of three children.