From the RCAF to LMC: Centennial Tales

Ray Townsend

Business Development and Strategy Senior Manager

It was Ray’s grandfather who inspired him with his desire to serve the community:

“I was heavily influenced by the personality and character of my grandfather who was an RCAF radar operator during WWII. He married my British Grandmother, who was a “Wren” with the Women’s Royal Naval Service and after the war they both returned to Canada where my grandfather operated the family hardware store in Seaforth, ON. My grandmother passed away when she was in her early 50’s. My grandfather raised their 6 children, became Mayor of the town, Fire Chief, and a prominent member of the church while continuing to run the hardware store. I was always amazed at his desire to serve and commitment to community and family.”

Colonel Ray Townsend (RCAF Pilot) and his grandfather, Sargent Frank Sills (RCAF Radar Operator).

When Ray graduated high school, he knew that he wanted to find a way to serve his community and his country. The Royal Military College emerged as the perfect opportunity to follow in his grandparents’ footsteps and explore a world of new experiences.

In the RCAF, Ray learned lessons about teamwork and dedication that can’t be taught anywhere else:

“The RCAF family is so much more than what the average Canadian might think it is. We all recognize the aircraft in the sky during a fly past over parliament or airshows, but in order to get to that point there is an enormous team that must work together to collaborate to achieve the end result, from the training of air and ground and support crews to maintenance of equipment and infrastructure, communication for weather, traffic and operational information, and administration activities. The network of professionals that are involved in providing air power on behalf of Canada is large, capable, and is an example of the amazing things we can accomplish when we work together towards a common goal.”

Among the many things that the RCAF teaches, Ray notes that planning and flexibility are two abilities that are constantly exercised by not only the RCAF members, but also their families.  After 23 years of service and many moves across the country, in 2020, Ray was ready to shift his focus from the adventure of the RCAF and focus on putting down some permanent roots for his family. Fortunately, the flexibility of the RCAF made the transition smooth. A position at Lockheed Martin Canada was a clear next step as Ray sought to continue the mission he had dedicated his life to for over two decades. 

Ray with his kids prior to his retirement in 2020.

“The sense of service and passion that Lockheed Martin employees exhibit towards the mission of the Canadian Armed Forces is the driving force behind my interest in the company and why I think the work we do every day is so important. In my experience, there is no more respected brand in the defence industry than Lockheed Martin and I feel privileged to be able to contribute to the many great things that Lockheed Martin does for Canada.”

How does he find his experiences with the RCAF impact his work at LMC?

Lockheed Martin employees hail from all sorts of backgrounds and careers, and each unique perspective adds to Lockheed Martin’s ability to serve Canada, Ray says:

“There are many people who bring a diverse perspective to the table when we are looking for solutions to complex issues – either from their own military experience or from other companies or government experiences – and that diversity leaves very few questions unanswered when we seek an optimal solution for Canada.”

For Ray, who was a CP-140 Aurora pilot, the many unique experiences he had have shown him the direct impact of the work he does with Lockheed Martin.

“In the RCAF, I flew the CP-140 Aurora, but I was fortunate to have served in roles outside of that community as well, which allowed me to gain experience with air mobility, tactical aviation, fighter operations, and targeting. The breadth of exposure during my time with the RCAF has really helped me to understand how Lockheed Martin can provide essential products and services to Canada that will be effective in the complex ecosystem of the Canadian Armed Forces.”

Ray conducting arctic patrols in the CP-140 north of Baffin Island in 2018.

Even in his free time, Ray finds the things he learned as a pilot influence every part of his daily life. As a hockey and lacrosse coach, he instills the same lessons he learned in the children he coaches:

“The whole team needs to know where you want the plane to go and work together to get it off the ground and safely to the destination. With proper preparation, training, and hard work, we can all get to the destination and be ready for any bad weather or emergencies we might encounter along the way!”

What does the RCAF Centennial represent to Ray?

“To me, the RCAF Centennial represents the commitment of thousands of people who have done work on behalf of the RCAF every day to make it a successful and proud institution. In addition to the event's historic value, the RCAF Centennial represents something that will endure well into the future. One cannot think about air and space operations without dreaming about what it feels like to “slip the surly bonds of earth” or explore those places not yet explored.”