derek_gardner

CWO Gardner joined the CF and in March 1977 as a Safety Systems Technician, he was posted to the Base Aircraft Maintenance and Engineering Organization in Ottawa servicing the Cosmopolitan, Falcon and T-33 aircraft. In 1979, he moved to 450 Helicopter Squadron for adventures in Army aviation with the CH-147 Chinook helicopter. 1983 saw a move to Borden, ON as an instructor at the Canadian Forces School of Aerospace and Ordnance Engineering.

The East coast beckoned in 1987 with a call to 103 Rescue Unit in Gander, Newfoundland operating the CH-113 Labrador helicopter. While with 103 RU, he was promoted to MCpl in 1988 and in 1989 was selected as the 103 Rescue Unit Airman of the Year. 1990 saw a move to Base Rescue Flight in Goose Bay, Labrador and working on the CH-135 Twin Huey. While in Goose Bay, he was selected as the Air Force Association of Canada Airman of the Year. promotion to Sergeant in 1993 came with a move to 435 Squadron and the CC-130 Hercules aircraft in Edmonton, AB.

CWO Gardner had a brief stay in Edmonton as the base closed in 1994 and he moved to 4 Wing Cold Lake for the next 11 years. Reporting to 10 Field Technical Training Squadron, he worked in the Standards Cell monitoring CF-188 Hornet and T-33 training and transitioning to an Aviation Systems Technician, he became an instructor with the MOC 500 conversion program. In 1998, he seized the opportunity to be the Assistant to the Wing Chief Warrant Officer amassing a wealth of skills and knowledge. Promoted to Warrant Officer in 2001, he moved to 1 Air Maintenance Squadron as the Support Line Manager for 2nd and 3rd line overhaul of aircraft mechanical components. Promotion to Master Warrant Officer and attendance on the Senior Air Supervisors course occurred in the spring of 2005.

Selected for one of the most coveted positions within the Air Force, CWO Gardner was appointed in July 2005 as the Squadron Warrant Officer and the CC-138 Twin Otter Senior Maintenance Manager at 440 Squadron, Yellowknife in the Northwest Territories.

Promoted to Chief Warrant Officer in 2008, CWO Gardner was posted to 8 Air Maintenance Squadron in Trenton, ON as the Aircraft Maintenance CWO and in May 2010, he was appointed as the inaugural 424 Squadron CWO.

CWO Gardner was appointed to the Order of Military Merit in October 2000 and is the recipient of the 2005 Alberta Centennial Medal.