I went out and faced the challenges
News Article / February 28, 2022
Lynne Patterson
This past year, Captain Adam Byrne joined the 12 Wing Commander and Wing Chief to participate in two flag-raising events with the Pan-African Flag in Shearwater.
The first was to recognize Canada’s first Emancipation Day on August 1 (the anniversary of Great Britain’s Parliament abolishing slavery in the British Empire in 1834) and the second was on February 1, to mark the beginning of Nova Scotia’s African Heritage Month.
“I think these events are beneficial” says Capt Byrne. “The more ways we can support people, the better.” While he recognizes that such activities demonstrate progress in acknowledging a diverse group in the Canadian Armed Forces, he believes there is still much work to be done.
Capt Byrne is the Technical Training Flight Commander at 406 Maritime Operational Training Squadron at 12 Wing, and he spends a lot of time thinking about next steps.
As an Aerospace Engineering Officer (AERE) in the Cyclone schoolhouse, he oversees technical training, advising the Commanding Officer about which courses they need to run, analysing trends, and identifying areas of concern. He’s been in that job since the summer of 2021, and it's the most recent in a series of positions that he regards as the building blocks of his career.
In 2019, he was the Aircraft Servicing Officer (ASO) at 406 (M) OTS. In 2020, he moved over to 12 Air Maintenance Squadron as the Aircraft Maintenance Control and Records Officer (AMCRO).
Prior to this, Capt Byrne’s keen interest in music led him to serve in the Primary Reserve in 2006 as a musician for a few years. He enjoyed his time with the Reserve and released to “see what else the world had to offer.” During this time, he found himself drawn to physics and engineering, and in 2012, he started attending Saint Mary’s University through the CAF’s paid education Regular Officer Training Program as a Marine Systems Engineering Officer. In 2018, he made the switch to Aerospace Engineering Officer and started work at 12 Wing Shearwater. The following year, he completed his AERE occupation training at CFB Borden.
Throughout his career, Capt Byrne continues to look to the senior AEREs of 12 Wing for guidance and mentorship. “I would like to serve as a SAMEO (Squadron Air Maintenance Engineering Officer) and eventually as the SAMA (Senior Aircraft Maintenance Authority),” says Capt Byrne. “But in order to do that, like any professional, I need to broaden my experience.”
He says these objectives motivate him to grow. Because of his short, medium, and long-term goals, Capt Byrne feels he must keep focused on activities and initiatives that strengthen the organization, foster inclusivity, and support continuous improvement.
He enjoys working in Shearwater and expects to be posted to Ottawa in the near future to obtain the experience he needs to become a well-rounded AERE and leader. He describes a number of roles he may perform outside of the Wing before hopefully returning to Shearwater as a SAMEO.
As he progresses through his career, he hopes to see the organization continue to invest in its efforts to recognize people from the African-Canadian community, so new members joining can see relatable members in key leadership roles.
Capt Byrne says that hasn’t been his experience so far in his career.
“I’m not saying it doesn't exist elsewhere; I just do not see it through my own lens, which can be discouraging at times,” he says. “One of the many reasons I aspire to the SAMA role is to remind members of my community of what is possible.
“I want them to know I've overcome obstacles, gained experience, developed as a leader, and made it to this point. I want to use my career progression to help support other members to realise their full potential.”