Colonel (Col) Turenne is an Alberta native, having grown up in Edmonton. He joined the Canadian Armed Forces in December 1996. In September 1999 he received his Pilot Wings and was selected for training on the CF-188 at 4 Wing Cold Lake, Alberta. Following graduation from the CF-188 Fighter Pilot Course, Col Turenne held line fighter pilot positions at 425 Tactical Fighter Squadron (TFS), 3 Wing Bagotville, Quebec and at 409 Tactical Fighter Squadron, 4 Wing Cold Lake, Alberta. During his tour at 409 TFS he deployed to Kandahar, Afghanistan to work in the International Security and Assistance Force Combined Joint Operations Centre located in the Regional Command (South) Headquarters.
In 2009 he was posted to 410 Tactical Fighter (Operational Training) Squadron at 4 Wing Cold Lake, AB as an instructor on the CF-188 where he held positions as the Weapons and Training Officer and the Squadron Deputy Commander. In 2012, Col Turenne was posted the Next Generation Fighter Capability Office in Ottawa, ON as the Operational Capability Lead. In 2014 he was selected to attend the Canadian Forces College Joint Command and Staff Programme (JCSP 41). Upon graduation from JCSP, Col Turenne was appointed as the Commanding Officer of 425 Tactical Fighter Squadron at 3 Wing, Bagotville Quebec. Following his Command tour, Col Turenne was posted to the NORAD and USNORTHCOM Headquarters where he held positions as the Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff, the Director of NORAD Inspections, and the J7 Deputy Director. Colonel Turenne assumed command of 4 Wing Canadian Forces Base Cold Lake in June 2022.
During his career, Col Turenne has accumulated 2800 flight hours with over 2000 in the CF-188 holding qualifications as a CF-188 Flight Instructor, Tactical Standards Officer, NATO TacEval Evaluator, Maintenance Test Pilot and Operational Test and Evaluation Pilot.
Education
- 1997 Diploma in Aviation, Mount Royal College
- 2004 Bachelors of Arts, Economics, University of Manitoba
- 2014 Master’s of Business Administration, University of Ottawa
- 2015 Master’s of Defence Studies, Royal Military College.
- 2020 USAF Air War College (Distance) Graduate