MOOSE JAW — Col. Adam Carlson is no stranger to 15 Wing Airbase or the City of Moose Jaw, as he earned his pilot wings at the military training venue in 1997.
Now, nearly 30 years later, he is the new commander in charge, a designation that was made official during a change of command ceremony at the O.B. Philip Complex on June 12. The Kamloops, B.C.-born colonel is taking over from outgoing .
Brig.-Gen John Alexander, commander of 2 Canadian Air Division (CAD) in Winnipeg, presided over the ceremony. He pointed out that the base commander is similar to a mayor of a small town.
Before this new role, Carlson graduated from the Air War College in Montgomery, Alabama, in 2024, with a master’s degree in strategic studies. Before that, he was posted to 2 CAD as director of air force training.
“I’m incredibly proud and honoured to be here. There is a lot of trust given to me and it is significant,” Carlson said after the ceremony.
“As a military aviator and commander now, the weight of that command is significant because I have to serve and lead this team and I’m responsible,” he continued. “And I want to make sure everyone does their best but also look after the team.”
Carlson added that he felt that pressure while signing the certificate that symbolized the official transfer of command to him.
The incoming base commander said it was “interesting” to return as the new leader after training here from 1996 to 1997. He pointed out that student pilots have one singular focus: to learn to fly, perfect those skills and become the best.
“And then to come back here as the commander, it’s pretty special because you can walk the ramp (where planes take off) … and … it brings back the memories,” Carlson said.
The colonel reflected on past wing commanders he’s known over the years. When he was in Ottawa overseeing the national cadets and junior rangers programs, he interacted with an officer who was wing commander when he was a student.
Continuing, he said that was “very interesting” since he must now live up to the same expectations that he imagined past wing commanders had. Moreover, he doesn’t want to let down his new team.
“But it’s special to come back,” Carlson added.
The airbase commander said he was “super excited” with Ottawa’s recent investment of billions of new dollars into the military. He thought 15 Wing’s challenge would be to prepare students to fly the most advanced planes and train them to become knowledgeable leaders.
Besides producing the best pilots, Carlson will also focus on transitioning 15 Wing to the new Future Aircrew Training (FAcT) program while attempting to make the base a better place.
Meanwhile, the wing commander said he had a wonderful week walking around the base, meeting everyone and learning about their jobs. He expressed appreciation at how many different people contribute to a singular mission, while he compared 15 Wing to one big family.
“They’re amazing,” Carlson added.
Final words
During the ceremony, outgoing base commander Coutts gave his final speech, saying it was an honour to serve at 15 Wing. Furthermore, he was satisfied with what the organization had accomplished in those two years.
Continuing, he said he arrived at the end of the coronavirus pandemic, which had shut down most training programs. Moreover, there were few students to train, while the waitlist to attend was long. However, everyone at 15 Wing pulled together, which helped training rebound.
Meanwhile, he commended the Snowbirds for being a “deeply impressive” group. He noticed how hard the group worked to connect with Canadians, which included having a social media presence that was larger and more popular than the entire Canadian Forces.
“The professionals of this team … has forged, and continues to forge, a critical link with Canadians,” Coutts continued. “They exemplify the skill and discipline of not only what we do in pilot training, but also the wider body of warfighters across the (Royal Canadian Air Force).”
Coutts added that he was privileged to serve with 15 Wing personnel and would forever remain their biggest fan.
