Colonel William Joseph (W.J.) "Joe" Aitchison, OMM, CD (born December 5, 1941) is a retired
Canadian military officer, and former Colonel of the Regiment for the
Royal Canadian Regiment. He is also a security consultant and member of the board of directors of several organizations. He received the 2008 J.J. Kelso Award from the Hastings
Children's Aid Society for his work with the Ontario Association of Children's Aid Societies.
Life
Aitchison attended the
Royal Military College of Canada and graduated with the class of 1963.
Throughout Aitchison's career he held several command appointments, including being the Commanding Officer of 2nd Battalion of The RCR, Commandant
of the Canadian Forces School of Infantry and Base Commander of
CFB London,
ON.
Aitchison has three sons, retired
Master Warrant Officer
Master warrant officer (MWO) is a senior military rank in the Bangladesh Armed Forces, the Canadian Forces, Singapore Armed Forces, the South African National Defence Force and the Israel Defense Forces.
Bangladesh Armed Forces
Bangladesh-army- ...
Alan Aitchison, CD,
Major General D. Craig Aitchison
Major-General David Craig Aitchison (born June 4, 1968) is a former Canadians, Canadian Canadian military, military officer, who most recently served as the commander of the Canadian Defence Academy. He is the former Director of Army Staff and ...
, CD, and Daniel, and five grandchildren, Justin, Colin, Kayla, Callie, and Alicia. Son Craig is a currently serving member of the Canadian Forces, while son Alan and grandson Justin are former serving members. Craig is also an officer in
The Royal Canadian Regiment
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, identification_symbol_2 = Maple Leaf (2nd Bn pipes and drums)
, identification_symbol_2_label = Tartan
, identification_symbol_4 = The RCR
, identification_symbol_4_label = Abbreviation
, mar ...
and also commanded the Infantry School (2009–11), perhaps the first father-son to command the same unit in the Regiment's, if not Army's, history.
Aitchison became the new Colonel of the
Royal Canadian Regiment on February 25, 2011. On June 18, 2015, Aitchison handed over this position to his successor,
Major-General (Retired) J.I. Fenton, OMM, CD.
He currently resides in
Southern Ontario.
Honours and decorations
Aitchison received the following orders and decorations during his military career:
[Decorations identified via official Colonel of the Regiment Portrait of the RCR, or from the website of the Governor General of Canada]
,
,
,
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Aitchison, W. J.
Royal Canadian Regiment officers
Royal Military College of Canada alumni
Living people
1941 births
People from Lennox and Addington County