Colonel Colin Marks, CD
Colonel (Col) Colin “Beau” Marks grew up in Cole Harbour, NS, and joined the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) as a Reserve Force Non-comissioned Members (NCM) with the 1st Field Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery. After a component transfer to pilot, he earned his Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) Wings in 2003, and completed Fighter Lead-In Training on the CT-155 Hawk at 419 Tactical Fighter Training Squadron (Tac F (T) Sqn).
After completing the CF-18 Fighter Pilot Course in 2005, Col Marks was posted to the 425 Tactical Fighter Squadron (Tac F Sqn) "Alouettes" at 3 Wing Bagotville, Quebec. In 2009 Col Marks was selected for the US Navy Exchange at Naval Air Station Lemoore, California. This instructional tour began with the VFA-125 "Rough Raiders" flying the F/A-18 A-D, and Col Marks soon became the first Canadian to qualify as an instructor pilot on the F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet with the VFA-122 "Flying Eagles." In 2012, Col Marks’ third assignment brought him back to Cold Lake as a flying supervisor with the 409 Tac F Sqn “Nighthawks.”
In 2015, Col Marks completed the Joint Command and Staff Programme in Toronto, and was subsequently posted to the Future Fighter Project at the National Defence Headquarters (NDHQ) in Ottawa, as Director of Operational and Training Requirements. In 2016, he completed his Master’s Degree in Defence Studies via Royal Military College and was assigned to the Interim Fighter Project as the F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet subject matter expert and Project Director, and promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel (LCol).
In 2017, Col Marks returned to 4 Wing, taking on the “Moose” callsign as Commanding Officer of 419 Tac F (T) Sqn. In 2019, he moved across the flight line to assume command of 409 Tac F Sqn. In 2021, he was assigned as Commanding Officer of 4 Operations Support Squadron. Throughout these consecutive command tours, it was his privilege and honour to contribute to Fighter Force mission success, and to support the exceptional men and women of the “Moosemen,” the “Nighthawks,” and the “Badgers.”
Col Marks has been fortunate enough to amass over 3000 military flying hours, with over 2500 in the CF-18 and F/A-18 A-F, and earned his US Navy “Wings of Gold” in 2010 aboard USS GHW Bush (CVN-77). He has participated in multiple domestic deployments in support of NORAD Operations NOBLE EAGLE and NORTHERN DENIAL, and in training detachments around the globe. In 2021-22 he deployed for over six months in support of Operation FOUNDATION to the United States Air Force Central Command Combined Air Operations Centre at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, as the Deputy Director of Combat Operations, Chief of Combat Operations, and Lead Senior National Representative for the 18-nation Coalition. Upon return to Canada in 2022 he was promoted to his current rank.
Col Marks is incredibly grateful for this opportunity to return to 3 Wing where his fighter career began, and to serve with and support the dedicated, professional war fighters of Canadian Forces Base Bagotville.