Executive Director
RCAF Association 

Dean Black is the Executive Director of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) Association of Canada. Prior to the RCAF Association of Canada, he served in the Canadian Armed Forces as a tactical helicopter pilot and senior defence analyst. Mr. Black’s most recent flying responsibilities were as Commanding Officer of 403 Helicopter Operational Training Squadron in Oromocto, New Brunswick. After 30 years of dedicated service, in 2007 Mr. Black retired from service.

Dean Black holds a B.Sc. and M.A. from the Royal Military College and Canada, as well as an M.A from York St. John University, and graduated from the Canadian Land Forces Command and Staff College, the Canadian Forces School of Aerospace Studies, and the Advanced Air Ground Operations School.

2023 Scholarship Recipient

Dedicated to pursuing a career in the sky, Sophie Boudreau is currently studying at Polytechnique Montréal. Beyond her studies, she has been extremely active in encouraging young people to learn about aviation and aerospace as a career path.

Pilot / Chair of RCAF Foundation
WestJet Airlines

Kristin Long is a 737 pilot at WestJet Airlines. She founded Northern Spirit, a Chapter of Women in Aviation International in 2002 and is the Chair of Girls in Aviation Day – Winnipeg.

Kristin is actively involved on various boards and committees in the community, and was appointed Honorary Colonel to the Canadian Forces School of Survival and Aeromedical Training at 17 Wing in 2020. She is Board Director of the RCAF Foundation.

2023 Scholarship Recipient

A desire for space exploration, Noah Létourneau is currently a Mechanical Engineering student at the University of Victoria. When he’s not studying, he serves as the Business Lead for UVIC Rocketry and is responsible for managing all financial concerns regarding the organization and looking into sponsorship opportunities. Beyond that, he is a man of many talents and enjoys martial arts and dance.

Arts, Culture & Heritage Programmer/Producer

For over 15 years, Nadine has been engaging diverse communities through cultural programming and meaningful participation in the arts. She has a vast and impressive repertoire and has worked as Director of Programming for Myseum Toronto, Artistic Director of Carlos Bulosan Theatre and co-founder of the youth-led Kapisanan Philippine Centre for Arts & Culture. She has also worked with various community-centred arts organizations, curating programs, animating public spaces and producing mid to large-scale community performance projects.

Executive Vice President / Founding Chair of RCAF Foundation
Maru Public Opinion

John Wright CAIP, FRCGS is Executive Vice President of Maru Public Opinion and has carried out surveys in over 40 countries over the last 30 years. He currently serves as the Honorary Colonel for the Chief of the Defence Staff Office and is a member of the RCAF Commanders Advisory Council. He is also the Chair of the Board of Directors of the RCAF Foundation.

He has previously served as HCol for RCAF W/C William G. Barker VC Aerospace College, HCol for RCAF 400 Tactical Helicopter SQN, and as HLCol for the Ontario Regiment (RCAC). John has been awarded four Commanders Commendations, the Queens Diamond Jubilee Medal for Military History and Education, the Ontario Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Community Volunteerism, an Arbor Award from the University of Toronto, and a Fellowship with the Royal Canadian Geographic Society. He has also served as a Director for numerous charitable organizations including Canada Company, Wounded Warriors Canada, and the Canadian Forces College (CFC) Foundation.

Founder
Black Aviation Professionals Network (BAPN)

Tonya Yearwood is a IT Program Manager at Air Canada and founder of the Black Aviation Professionals Network (BAPN), the first and only group in Canada with a goal to nurture Black talent within the aviation and aerospace industry. A registered charity, BAPN offers a youth outreach program, mentorship program, and financial support for flight training, as well as a nationwide network that allows established professionals to share knowledge and build a sense of community. Through her extraordinary leadership, Tonya has inspired a movement that holds the potential to advance diversity within the aviation industry for generations to come.