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LtCol James Hyatt

James Hyatt enjoyed an interesting career in Artillery and Aviation. His surname was changed to Ongman when he was a child and returned to Hyatt as an adult. Jim was born and raised in Kenora, ON where he joined the local Militia at age 15. In 1964 he enlisted in the Regular Force as a Gunner, employed as a surveyor for four years with 1 Loc Bty and 2 SSM Bty. After completing a Senior NCO course he was selected for OCTP. He underwent RCAF pilot training on Tutor and T-33 aircraft at Gimli, MB and qualified as a fixed-wing pilot and later as a helicopter pilot. He graduated from the University of Manitoba and the Canadian Forces Command and Staff College. His flying tours included 422, 403, 408 Squadrons and 3 CFFTS as Commandant. His other appointments included, EA for ADM Policy at NDHQ, aviation operations command with UNSCOM in Iraq following Operation Desert Storm and Deputy Secretary General for SICOFAA (System of Cooperation Among the American Air Forces), in Washington, DC. After leaving the Regular Force in 1997, Jim worked as an aviation consultant in Canada, Africa, the Middle East and Latin America, providing advice to government and corporate clients including the United Nations. Jim Hyatt retired and relocated to St Catharines, ON in 2011 where he served as a Director and Vice Chair for Niagara Regional Housing for seven years