Chief Warrant Officer Mario Huard
Chief Warrant Officer (CWO) Mario Huard was born in Buckingham, Quebec. He joined the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) as an instrument electrical technician in 1986. After successfully completing basic training at Canadian Forces Leadership and Recruit School Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec and professional training at Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Borden, Ontario, he was posted to 412 Transport Squadron at CFB Ottawa, Ontario, where he worked as a first- and second-line technician.
In 1994, CWO Huard was posted to 450 Tactical Helicopter Squadron (Tac Hel Sqn) which subsequently moved to St-Hubert, Quebec and then to 438 Tac Hel Sqn where he held the position of technician and instructor on the CH-146 Griffon course. Upon restructuration of his profession, he became an aviation systems technician. In 2001, he deployed to Bosnia on Op Palladium. In 2004, he was posted to 430 Tac Hel Sqn at CFB Valcartier, Quebec. In 2006, he was promoted to Sergeant and posted to 425 Tactical Fighter Squadron at CFB Bagotville, Quebec.
After more than 20 years in the Regular Force, CWO Huard made the decision to transfer to the Reserve Force in 2007 and returned to 438 Tac Hel Sqn. He then had the chance to serve at Op Podium during the Olympic Games in 2010 as well as on Op Nevus in 2011. Promoted to the rank of Warrant Officer in 2013, he accepted a position with the Air Reserve Squadron in Ottawa as the recruiting warrant officer.
In 2016, he was promoted to the rank of Master Warrant Officer and accepted a position at Canadian Army (CA) Headquarters to manage compensation and benefits for the CA Primary Reserve. In 2017, he transferred to the Director – Personnel Generation Requirements to develop a new profession, Air Operations Support Technician, which was implemented in 2019. After 11 years in the Reserve Force, CWO Huard transferred back to the Regular Force. In 2019, he was career manager for Avionics Technicians from the rank of Aviator to Master Corporal. Promoted to the rank of CWO in May 2020, he was appointed CWO at 433 Tactical Fighter Squadron at 3 Wing Bagotville. He deployed to Romania for Op Reassurance as the Air Task Force CWO. In 2022, he was appointed as the 2nd Air Expeditionary Training Squadron CWO. In 2024, CWO Huard was appointed 3 Wing and CFB Bagotville Chief Warrant Officer.
CWO Huard was awarded the Chief of the Defence Staff Commendation in 2021.
CWO Huard is married to Tanya, a financial services administrator currently posted at 3 Wing, Bagotville. They have two children, Joshua and Mikayla. They enjoy traveling, playing sports and the outdoors by hunting and fishing.
