Canadian Army Aviation
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Ed Gosden was born in Montreal, Quebec, in 1946. He enrolled in the Royal Canadian Infantry Corps in September 1964. After completing the Officer Candidate Program at the Royal Canadian School of Infantry in Camp Borden, ON, he joined the 1st Battalion, The Canadian Guards, Camp Picton, ON, where he served a three-year tour as an infantry platoon commander. In 1968, he was posted to the 2nd Battalion at Canadian Forces Base Petawawa, Ontario where he served as the Mortar Platoon Commander. He was promoted to Captain in September 1969 and subsequently attended the Canadian Forces Staff School, Toronto, in November 1970.
Captain Gosden commenced primary pilot training at Portage La Prairie in March 1971 followed by the Tutor jet training course in Moose Jaw later that year. The final phase of pilot training was conducted at 1 Canadian Forces Flying Training School, Cold Lake, Alberta. Upon graduation on 20 October 1972, he was posted to 427 Tactical Helicopter Squadron at CFB Petawawa, Ontario. He subsequently attended the Basic Helicopter Course at Portage La Prairie in early 1973 followed by the Kiowa OTU course at 403 Squadron, Gagetown, NB. During his tour at 427 Squadron he attended the Army’s Junior Command and Staff Course (Land) in Kingston, ON. In August 1976, Captain Gosden was posted to 444 Tactical Helicopter Squadron in Lahr, Germany. This tour was cut short when, in February 1978, he was posted to an exchange position with 657 Squadron, Army Air Corps, Oakington Barracks, Cambridgeshire, UK. During this tour he was the Anti-tank Flight Commander. He was promoted to the rank of Major in July 1979. On return to Canada in June 1980, he was posted to HQ 10 Tactical Air Group at St-Hubert, Quebec. During a three-year tour, he held the staff appointments of Staff Officer Plans and Doctrine followed by Staff Officer Training. In August 1983, Major Gosden attended the Canadian Forces Command and Staff College, Toronto, Ontario. Upon graduation he was posted to 427 Tactical Helicopter Squadron in July 1984 and for one year held the appointment of Deputy Commanding Officer. On 28 June 1985, he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel and appointed Commanding Officer of 427 Squadron. Lieutenant-Colonel Gosden served a six-month peacekeeping tour as Commanding Officer of the Rotary Wing Aviation Unit of the Multinational Force and Observers, El Gorah, Egypt from September 1986 to March 1987. In July 1988, Lieutenant-Colonel Gosden was posted to National Defence Headquarters, Ottawa where he held the appointment of Director of Land Aviation for a period of one year. He was promoted to the rank of Colonel in July 1989 and posted to the Canadian Forces Command and Staff College, Toronto, where he concurrently held the appointments of Director of Air Studies and Director of National Security Studies. In August 1992, he was posted to the Canadian Forces Language School, Ottawa, where he attended the one-year Continuous French Course. In July 1993, Colonel Gosden assumed the appointment of Commander, Canadian Contingent, Multinational Force and Observers, El Gorah, Egypt. He filled the staff appointment of Chief of Operations and Liaison within the Force Headquarters. On 9 August 1994, Colonel Gosden was appointed Deputy Commander 10 Tactical Air Group upon his return to Canada. On 19 July 1996, he was promoted to the rank of Brigadier-General and on 6 August 1996 assumed the appointment of Commandant, Canadian Forces College, Toronto where he remained until his retirement on 7 July, 2000. Brigadier-General Gosden was awarded the Order of Military Merit in August 1996 and was subsequently upgraded to Commander within the Order in 1999. Following retirement from the military, he spent ten years as the National Critical Infrastructure Coordinator for Public Safety Canada’s regional office in Toronto. Throughout this period he worked closely with his provincial counterpart to create the Ontario Critical Infrastructure Assurance Program. He is married to the former Alfreda Portelli of Toronto, Ontario; they have a daughter, Carol Ann, and a son, Kevin. |
