Canada's largest military air field officially has a new commander, less than two weeks after predecessor Col. Russell Williams was arrested for a pair of shocking murders and two sexual assaults.
Col. Dave Cochrane took command of CFB Trenton on Friday morning, following a ceremony led by Maj.-Gen. Yvan Blondin, commander of 1 Canadian Air Division.
According to Cochrane's official biography, he first joined the Canadian Forces in 1982 and graduated from the Royal Military College in Kingston, Ont., four years later.
In the interim, Cochrane has, at various times, been posted in Ottawa and Trenton and participated in various overseas operations. In 2003, he earned a Master's degree from RMC and took the Canadian Forces Command and Staff College Course in Toronto.
At a news conference following his official promotion, Cochrane said he wanted to help CFB Trenton stay on track, despite the recent events that involved the previous base commander. (Williams was not mentioned by name during the formal ceremony.)
"The key thing is listening to the men and women and providing the care necessary so we can move forward and be successful," he told reporters on Friday morning.
Cochrane said counselors and mental health specialists had been made available to the people working at CFB Trenton.
"Our goal still is continued operational success, but for us to make that happen, we need to provide the support necessary to our members鈥n order for them to be effective at their job," said Cochrane.
On a personal level, Cochrane said his family was "thrilled" to learn that he was being promoted to lead CFB Trenton.
Ex-colonel remains in custody
Williams remains at the Quinte Detention Centre, in Napanee, about 60 kilometres east of CFB Trenton. But he will continue to draw a military paycheck, as he has not been convicted of any crimes.
The 46-year-old faces two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of forcible confinement and two counts of break and enter and sexual assault.
Williams is accused of killing Jessica Lloyd, 27, and Cpl. Marie-France Comeau, 37, both from Eastern Ontario, in separate incidents. He is also accused of sexually assaulting two women from Tweed, Ont., the small town where Williams owns a lakeside cottage.
Lloyd was reported missing when she didn't show up for her job in Napanee in late January. Her body was fond in Tweed about two weeks later.
Comeau was found dead in her Brighton, Ont., home last November. She was a flight steward at CFB Trenton and worked alongside Williams on many occasions when he flew military VIPs around, including the prime minister.
Police have said they do not intend to release the cause of death of either woman.
Williams made a video court appearance yesterday. He returns to court March 25.
He has retained Michael Edelson, a top Ottawa defence lawyer, to represent him.
Edelson has represented more than 50 clients who stood accused of murder during his career and has handled many high-profile cases.
With files from The Canadian Press
