MAJOR-GENERAL T.L. HARRIS, CD

In 1987, Major-General Tammy Harris graduated from Acadia University and joined the Canadian Forces under the Direct Entry Officer program as an Air Traffic Controller. Upon completion of her basic air traffic control course in 1989, she was posted to Lahr, Germany for her initial qualification. During her tour, Major-General Harris was also appointed the Tower Chief Controller.

In 1993, Major-General Harris was posted to Sault Ste Marie, Ontario to open a Recruiting Centre and assumed the duties as the Detachment Commander and later was appointed the Deputy Commanding Officer of Northern Ontario Recruiting. Major-General Harris was actively involved in OP PERSISTENCE, which dealt with the Swiss Air 111 disaster, when she was Chief Controller at 12 Wing Shearwater.

On promotion to Major in 2000, Major-General Harris was posted to 15 Wing Moose Jaw for the commencement of the NATO Flying Training in Canada (NFTC) program as the Wing Air Traffic Controller Officer and Wing Operations Officer. In 2003, she was selected to be the Commandant of the Air Command Academy at 16 Wing Borden. In 2004, she was chosen to attend the Canadian Forces Staff Course in Toronto; the following June she was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel and was assigned to the Canadian Defence Academy as the Senior Advisor to its Commander. In the fall of 2006, she returned to the Canadian Forces College in Toronto to attend the Advanced Military Studies Program. In 2007, she was appointed the Commander of 9 Wing Gander and relinquished command in June 2009, when she left for a deployment in Afghanistan as the Commanding Officer of the Canadian Element Roto 8 for COMKAF and the Chief J5 Planner for NATO on the Kandahar Airfield and Base.

Upon her return to Canada in 2010, Major-General Harris was promoted to Colonel and assumed the duties of Special Advisor to the Vice Chief of the Defence Staff.

In 2012, Major-General Harris was appointed Commander of Canadian Forces Base Borden as well as Commander of the Canadian Forces Support Training Group. In July 2013, she was promoted to Brigadier-General, and she was appointed to the Privy Council Office as a senior military advisor. In September 2015 she was named the Chief of Staff to the Chief of the Defence Staff. Major-General Harris was promoted to her current rank in May 2016, along with an appointment as champion for gender-based analysis and Women, Peace and Security. On 20 March 2017, Major-General Harris became the deputy commander of the Royal Canadian Air Force – the first woman to hold such a post in the Royal Canadian Navy, Canadian Army or Royal Canadian Air Force.