Biography - Colonel J.K. Ambler, CD
Colonel Jon Ambler was born in Rotherham, England in
1955 and his family immigrated to Canada in 1964. They initially lived
for two years in Corner Brook, Newfoundland, and then in 1966 they
moved to Kenora, Ontario.
He is a graduate of Beaver Brae Secondary School in Kenora,
Ontario and the Red River Community College, Winnipeg, Manitoba. In
1997 he completed a BA in History and Political Science from the University
of Manitoba. He was active in Sea Cadets from 1968 to 1973, and attended
summer camps at Quadra and Esquimalt, qualifying as a Boatswain, and
taking cruises on HMCS Provider and HMCS Columbia.
He joined the CF in 1979 as a Direct Entry Officer and
was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant. He earned his Navigator wings
in 1980. His first operational tour was with 415 (MP) Squadron, initially
flying the Argus in Summerside and then the Aurora in Greenwood, until
1984. A tour as a navigator-communicator instructor followed at 404
(MP&T) Squadron. In 1986 he was selected to serve as the Navigator
Career Manager at NDHQ. In 1988, then Major Ambler was posted to the
CDLS London, England to serve as Staff Officer Operations and Plans.
Following his graduation from the RAF Staff College in 1990 he re-joined
415 (MP) Squadron, serving as Flight Commander and Deputy Commanding
Officer.
Promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel in 1993 he was posted
to NDHQ where he served as the Executive Assistant to the Associate
ADM (Personnel). In 1995 he commenced his third tour at 415 (MP) Squadron,
serving as the Commanding Officer until 1997, and completing over 3,000
operational flying hours. Following his graduation from the USAF Air
War College in 1998 he was promoted to Colonel and was posted to the
HQ of the NATO AEW&C Force in Mons, Belgium, where he was the Assistant
Chief of Staff for Standards, Policy and Plans. Returning to Canada
in August 2001 he served two years as the Director of Cadets at NDHQ.
In July 2003 he took command of Task Force El Gorah, Canada’s
contribution to the Multinational Force and Observers (MFO) located
in Egypt’s Sinai Desert. Upon his return from peacekeeping in
July 2004, he assumed command of 19 Wing Comox.
