Marc Bigaouette joined the Canadian Forces in 1980 and spent most of his military career as pilot with the Tactical Aviation community of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), flying the Bell 206, Bell 212 and Bell 412. A former member of 403, 427, 430 and 450 Sqns, he commanded the Canadian Helicopter Force (Afghanistan) in 2009 and the NATO Flying Training Center in Canada (NFTC) from 2010 to 2012. His staff positions have included Career Manager, Air Force Operations Officer, Director of Air Requirements (Tactical Aviation), Project Director for the acquisition of a Medium to Heavy Lift Helicopter, Director Air Force Training, Air Force Adviser to the United Kingdom and Military Attaché to the Republic of Iceland. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in administration from the Royal Military College of Canada and a Masters in Military Art and Science from the US Air Force Air University in Alabama. He is also a graduate from the US Air Force Staff College and the UK’s Royal College of Defence Studies. Upon retiring from the military in 2017, Marc joined Bell as Director of the CH-146 Griffon Optimized Weapon System Support (OWSS) program where he leads a team of some 100 dedicated members and sub-contractors supporting a fleet of 85 Griffon helicopters. In cooperation with Public Service and Procurement Canada (PSPC) and the Department of National Defence (DND), the program is responsible for the management, engineering, materiel and maintenance support of the CH-146 Griffon multirole helicopter.