Pennie joined the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1966 and graduated from the Royal Military College of Canada in 1970 . He served as Commanding Officer of 403 Helicopter Operational Training Squadron and then became Deputy Commander of 10 Tactical Air Group in 1990 , Deputy Chief of Staff , Plans and Requirements in 1993 and Commander of 10 Tactical Air Group in 1995 . He went on to be Director Force Planning and Program Coordination at National Defence Headquarters in 1997 , Director General Strategic Planning at National Defence Headquarters in 1998 and Deputy Commander of NORAD in 2001 , seeing intense activity in that role during the September 11 attacks , before becoming Chief of the Air Staff in 2003 and retiring in 2005
September 11 attacks
September 11 attacks
Ken Pennie