On Thursday, June 24, during the visit to 22 Wing, the Acting Chief of the Defence Staff, Lieutenant-General Wayne Eyre presented Lieutenant-Colonel Joseph Oldford, 21 Aerospace Control & Warning Squadron Commanding Officer, with the Chief of Defence Staff Commendation.
The Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS) Commendation is awarded to recognize deeds or activities beyond the demand of normal duty.
“When Lieutenant-General Eyre visited 22 Wing in June, I was both surprised and humbled to receive the Chief of Defence Staff Commendation," said Oldford in a news release. " While deployed as the deputy director of Combat Operations in Qatar I wasn’t alone. Mission success depended on the strong support system of profession and capable personnel who served within the Combined Aerospace Operations Centre, but more importantly the incredible support system I could rely on back at home.”
Eyre and his staff, including the Canadian Armed Forces Chief Warrant Officer Gilles Gregoire, visited 22 Wing Canadian Forces Base in North Bay to get familiarized with the Canadian Air Defence Sector operation, issues and current events, and to meet the wing and squadron command teams.
Oldford joined the Canadian Armed Forces in 1994 as an Infantry Reservist with the 2nd Battalion, Nova Scotia Highlanders.
In 2002, he transferred to the Regular Force as an Aerospace Control Officer through the Regular Officer Training Program.
Following completion of initial Aerospace Control Officer Training, Oldford was posted to 21 Aerospace Control and Warning Squadron, 22 Wing/Canadian Forces Base North Bay, as a Weapons Director and later a Senior Director within the Canadian Air Defence Sector. In 2010, then, Captain Oldford was selected to deploy on Operation ATHENA in Afghanistan with the 1e Battalion, Royale 22e Regiment Battle Group as a member of the Tactical Air Control Party. The Battle Group TACP was responsible for delivering air support to ground forces across the Canadian Task Force area of operations.
Following a challenging and rewarding nine months, Lt.-Col. Oldford returned to Canada and was posted to the Air-Land Integration Cell as the National TACP Standards Officer within the Canadian Army Doctrine and Training Centre in Kingston, to continue to solidify the Joint Terminal Attack Controller and TACP capabilities across the CAF.
Following his time with the Canadian Army, Lt.-Col. Oldford was promoted to Major and posted to 5 Wing Goose Bay, NL as the Wing Operations Officer. During the following three years Oldford had the privilege of working alongside a proud and diverse community of Labradoreans and Indigenous peoples across the isolated area of Labrador and northern Quebec.
Lt.-Col. Oldford attended the Joint Command and Staff Programme at the Canadian Forces College. Upon graduation, he was posted to Ottawa to serve as Executive Assistant to Chief Fighter Capability at National Defence Headquarters.
In November 2018, upon promotion to his current rank, Oldford was selected to deploy on Operation FOUNDATION to the US Combined Air and Space Operations Centre at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar as the Deputy Director, Combat Operations Division. During this deployment, the CAOC Combat Operations Division contributed air support to operations ultimately leading to the collapse of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria physical caliphate in Iraq and Syria.
It was during this deployment that Lt.-Col Oldford distinguished himself, which lead to receiving the Chief of the Defence Staff Commendation.
The commendation reads:
From December 2018 to May 2019, Lieutenant-Colonel Oldford was deployed as part of Task Force Central to the 609th Combined Aerospace Operations Center in Qatar. As the deputy director of Combat Operations, he utilized his considerable tactical acumen and outstanding leadership skills in overseeing air operations in four theatres simultaneously, resulting in the collapse of the physical ISIS caliphate in Iraq and Syria. His efforts directly contributed significant operational effects to coalition operations in the most dynamic and complex theatre in the world.
Following this deployment, Lt.-Col. Oldford was posted back to Ottawa to the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) Forward Element, a liaison office for NORAD HQ within NDHQ. Then, on June 26, 2020, he was posted to 22 Wing, once again, this time as the 21 Aerospace Control & Warning Squadron Commanding Officer.
Lt.-Col. Oldford holds a Bachelor of Computer Science from the University of New Brunswick, as well as a Masters of Science (Mathematics) and a Masters of Defense Studies from the Royal Military College. Lt.-Col. Oldford is married to Anita Oldford (nee O’Neill) originally from Glace Bay, NS and they have two beautiful daughters, Kandace and Jenna.
