CFB Shilo — Goodyear takes over top post

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This article was published 24/06/2011 (5423 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

CFB SHILO — The winds of change blew through CFB Shilo yesterday.

Following two years at the helm, Lt.-Col. Luc Généreux relinquished his role to Lt.-Col. Richard Goodyear during a change of command ceremony held under a clear blue sky at Leslie Parade Square at CFB Shilo.

Hours later, Lt.-Col. Lee Hammond took the reins as commanding officer of the First Regiment Royal Canadian Horse Artillery from Lt.-Col. Tim Young following an official ceremony at Korea Parade Square.

As family, friends and coworkers looked on, Généreux led troops through one final military parade as base commander before he took a moment to reflect on his two years in charge.

Since 2009, Généreux oversaw many activities on base including task force deployment, training and security for the Vancouver Olympics and Paralympics, the opening of General Strange Hall, the Memorial Cup, improvements to the Royal Canadian Artillery Museum and support during the flood.

"I want to thank all the ones who supported Shilo. Without its soldiers and its families, it would be a long journey," Généreux told the crowd. "… You did a lot of outstanding work, often with few resources. Success was achieved not because of me but because of the teamwork and dedication of many."

Généreux has been selected to attend the Inter-American Defence College in Washington, D.C. He and his family will leave Shilo by the end of June.

Meanwhile, the sights and sounds at Shilo are all new for Goodyear and his young family. With just four days on base under his belt, the Newfoundland and Labrador native says he looks forward to finishing up with formalities and figuring out "what the base is all about."

As base commander, Goodyear sees his role as one with three distinct focuses. The first is to support operations, the second is to support morale and welfare on base, while the third is to maintain and strengthen relationships with neighbours.

"I need to get out and see the communities and meet all of the folks I can and just talk to them about their relationship with the base and what we can do to maintain and strengthen our relationship," he said. "The base plays a big role in our neighbouring communities and I hope to continue that."

An experienced accountant and business management professional, Goodyear says although his focus is on base operations as a whole, he hopes to put his education and past experience to good use during his two-year tenure.

"I understand resource management. It’s something that has been my forte and what I’ve done most of my career, so hopefully I can ensure that we get the most out of the resources that we’re given," he said. "If I can use my education experience, that’s where it will come in."

Goodyear was promoted to lieutenant colonel in 2010 and was then posted to Canadian Forces Expeditionary Command Headquarters in Ottawa, where he served as command comptroller for deployed operations.

Goodyear is a certified management accountant and holds a MBA from Université du Québec à Montréal.

In 2006, during a tour in Afghanistan, his efforts to promote the authority of the Afghan National Bank and to increase foreign use of Afghan currency while strengthening local financial institutions, landed Goodyear a Meritorious Service Medal.