Domestic Operations: Air Reserves

Brigadier-General Thuen joined the Canadian Forces under the Regular Officer Training Plan. He attended both Royal Roads Military College in Victoria and Royal Military College in Kingston, graduating in 1978, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History and English. He then attended the Basic Air Navigation Course, at Canadian Forces Air Navigation School (CFANS) in Winnipeg, which he successfully completed in April of 1979. He was subsequently posted to 407 Squadron in Comox, British Columbia, where he flew as a navigator and navigator-communicator on the Argus and Aurora. He was transferred to CFANS as an instructor in 1982, where he became an A1 Category Navigation Instructor and the Chief Officer Development Instructor. In 1985, he was selected as Executive Assistant to Chief of Staff Support at Air Command Headquarters. In 1987, then Captain Thuen, was selected for a posting with the North American Air Defence (NORAD) Airborne Warning and Control (AWACS) program at Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma City. During his tenure in Oklahoma he achieved an "Exceptionally Qualified" instructor category and was promoted to major. He also received the Deputy Commander-in-Chief NORAD Commendation for his outstanding support to the Canadian Component to NORAD. He returned to AIRCOM HQ, in 1991, as Staff Officer Personnel Relations and Acting Senior Staff Officer Personnel. In 1994 he attended Staff College in Toronto and was subsequently posted to 435 Squadron in Winnipeg. He served as the Navigator Leader and Aircrew Leader until his retirement from the Regular Force on 1April 1997. Major Thuen joined the Primary Reserve immediately and served as 17 Wing Heritage Officer and 17 Wing Air Reserve Flight Commander. He was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel in January 1999 and was transferred to the position of A1 Reserve Coordinator for Training Wings. He then moved to 1 Canadian Air Division Headquarters as A1 Reserve Coordinator responsible for Reserve Establishments and Policy and subsequently as A1 Reserve Personnel responsible for Air Reserve policy development and implementation. BGen Thuen was then promoted to Colonel on 15 August 2001. Upon promotion, he attended the Advanced Military Studies course (AMSC) at the Canadian Forces College in Toronto. Following completion of the AMSC, he took up the post ofA1 Reserve at 1 Canadian Air Division Headquarters in Winnipeg. In May 2004, he assumed the duties of A3 Aviation, Patrol and Transport Readiness. BGen Thuen was promoted to his current rank on 26 May 2006 and assumed the duties of Deputy Commander Mission Support at 1 Canadian Air Division in Winnipeg. In addition, he has been appointed Director GeneralAir Reserve.