8042

 

8042  David Heath

 

Stone Frigateer.  Lived in all four residences over the four years. RMC BEng (Electrical) – CELE (RCAF TechTel).  UofA MEng (Electrical).  Canadian Staff College psc. 

Married Sandy Munroe October 1969 in Port Credit, ON.  Our son Doug was born in Ottawa in 1971 (now resides in Saskatoon with our three grandsons) and our daughter Amy was born in Kingston in 1974 (now lives in Campbell River).  Sandy is a Queen’s grad (Child Psychology and Math) – good counterpoint to an engineer.

1969-71 – Edmonton AB.  Post grad at UofA (RMC engineering education compared very favourably) followed by a brief stint at 742 Comm Squadron.  Sandy’s first experience on the Canadian prairies and Edmonton welcomed her with one of the most brutal winters in its history.

1971-73 – Kanata ON.  Seconded to Defence Research Establishment Ottawa/Communications Research Centre. Designed microelectronic circuits, test equipment, and software for research and testing of battery power systems including Navy torpedoes and ANIK satellites. 

President of one of the first Condo Associations in Ontario – an education in human nature!

1973-75 – Kingston ON.  Assistant Professor of Electrical Engineering and Commanding Officer Five Squadron – insight into the other side of the academic/military coin.  A highlight was working in the new engineering building.

1975-78 – Grande Prairie AB.  Chief Ground Environment Officer at CFS Beaverlodge - small unit and made many lifelong friends.   A highlight was organizing largest-ever Air Show in northwestern Alberta.  .

1978-80 – Trenton ON.  Commanding Officer 708 Communications Squadron.

1980-82 – Trenton ON.  Project Manager/Engineer for the installation of Terminal Radar and Control Systems at CFBs Comox, Cold Lake, Moose Jaw, Bagotville, Greenwood, and Trenton.  Two years of continuous shuttling across the country – rewarding professionally but hard on family life.

1982-83 – Toronto ON.  Canadian Staff College.  Lived in a bachelor suite on Yonge Street with family remaining in Trenton.

1983-87 – Winnipeg MB.  Senior Staff Officer Communications and Electronics at RCAF Headquarters.  Course Director several times for the CELE Air Advanced Course at CFB Kingston.  Member of the Manitoba Professional Engineering Association.

1987 – retired from military with rank of Wing Commander after realizing continued government neglect of the armed forces was unlikely to change.

1987-93 Saskatoon SK.  Director of Engineering at SED Systems – large, talented group of systems, hardware, and software engineers and support staff producing designs for satellite scientific payloads, satellite communication ground stations, and several defence projects including new Frigate communications. 

Organized an RMC Club “Branch” in Saskatoon but with only ten members, became known as a “Twig” – members included classmates Geoff Hodgson, Mark Moore, Bob MacLeod .  VP of the Saskatchewan Engineering Association.  Member of Synergy Today promoting nuclear power in Saskatchewan.

1993-98 – Saskatoon SK.  Corporate VP Operations for International Road Dynamics managing large engineering and manufacturing operation for the design, production, and installation of Intelligent Vehicle Highway Systems across North America, Europe, and Asia.  A highlight was design and installation of the communication cabinets for the 407 Toll Highway in Toronto.

General Manager of subsidiary tech companies in Toronto and Stafford, UK – commuted between Saskatoon and Toronto twice a month for almost two years.

1998-2009 Summerland BC.  Established a consulting company providing business management and technical services to some amazing businesses and organizations in BC, the US and as far away as Singapore.  Did independent business consulting for BDC and collaborated with Classmate Dave Neely developing online management training.  Member of the British Columbia Professional Engineering Association.

Joined the Rotary Club of Summerland – found my “tribe”.  Participated in competitive curling, skied at Apex, Big White, and Silver Star, and “played” golf.  Goal each spring was to do the “triple header” – ski in the morning, golf in the afternoon, and curl in the evening the same day.

2009 – Present.  Campbell River BC surrounded by mountains, rainforest, and ocean.  Keep busy with woodworking, gardening, and other activities.  Career allowed work/visits to most provinces, most US states, and many countries on four continents so our travels are now mostly limited to Vancouver Island.  Sandy and I are both members of the Rotary Club of Campbell River – very engaged in “giving something back”.  We are not retired - we are in Rotary!