Directorate of Flight Safety -- Director's Biography

Colonel Christopher R. Shelley, CD, Director of Flight Safety

Colonel Christopher R. Shelley, CD Director Flight Safety

Following reserve service with the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry, Colonel Shelley entered Royal Roads Military College, Victoria in 1973. He subsequently transferred to Royal Military College, Kingston, from which he has a BA in Honours English (1977), and an MA in War Studies (1994). Since 1978, Colonel Shelley has served operational tours with 424 Transport and Rescue Squadron, Trenton, Ontario, (1978 to 1983) and 408 Tactical Helicopter Squadron, Edmonton Alberta, (1983-1986; 1989-1992; 1999 to 2002). He has 3700 flying hours. From 1986 to 1988, Colonel Shelley served in National Defence Headquarters as the Kiowa, Twin Huey and Chinook helicopter fleet manager in the Directorate of Land Aviation. Colonel Shelley also served as Helicopter Flight Commander with 89 Rotary Wing Aviation Unit in the United Nations force in Central America, (ONUCA), from March to August of 1990.

After post-graduate study, Colonel Shelley served as Assistant Professor in the Department of Military Psychology and Leadership at the Royal Military College of Canada from 1994 to 1997. In July 1997, Colonel Shelley became the A4 and Headquarters Commanding Officer in 1 Wing Headquarters, Kingston. He commanded 408 Tactical Helicopter Squadron from June 1999 through June 2002, except for the period from March through September 2001 when he commanded the Task Force Bosnia-Herzegovina Helicopter Detachment in Velika Kladusa, Bosnia. Colonel Shelley was promoted to his current rank on 1 July 2002. He commanded 1 Wing from July 2003 until July 2005, and was Chief of Staff for the Canadian Defence Academy from July 2005 until July 2006. In August 2006, he was appointed Director of Flight Safety.

Colonel Shelley is a graduate of the Canadian Forces Land Command and Staff Course, Kingston (1985), the Canadian Forces Staff College, Toronto (1989) and the Advanced Military Studies Course, Toronto (2002).