Maj.-Gen. Charles (Duff) Sullivan (Ret'd)
Charles S. ‘Duff’ Sullivan
Major-General (ret), RCAF
Defence & Security, Aviation & Aerospace, Leadership & Ethics
Sullivan is a former general officer and senior military commander who has served at the highest levels of operational command and leadership. He entered the private sector in 2009 following a 31-year career in the Royal Canadian Air Force, and has continued to serve in various senior leadership and executive roles in the areas of defence & security, aviation & aerospace, and leadership & ethics.
Most recently, Sullivan served as President of Boeing Canada where he led the company’s business interests across Canada, which included over 2,300 full-time employees at 15 business locations in seven provinces, 590+ aerospace suppliers, 550+ commercial airplanes, and 100+ military aircraft. He also championed company sponsorship programs for cadets, veterans, indigenous groups, youth STEM, and women in aerospace and aviation.
Prior to Boeing, Sullivan served as a Member of the Transportation Appeal Tribunal of Canada for six years, three years as Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer.
On retiring from the RCAF, Sullivan was invited to join NAV Canada as Chief Operational Safety Oversight where he led risk assessments, safety reviews and evaluations, investigations, and collaboration efforts with Transport Canada and other aviation and aerospace stakeholders.
As Director-General of Capability Development at National Defence he led a diverse team of defence research scientists, PhD academics and senior military analysts to identify future military capabilities.
Sullivan also served as Director International Security and Senior Defence Advisor in the Prime Minister's Privy Council Office where he championed policy oversight of Canada’s intelligence community, defence strategy & procurement, as well as NORAD, NATO, and Canada’s security mission in Afghanistan.
While serving as Director Operations for the Canadian NORAD Region, he led the transformation of Canada’s new Homeland Defence and Continental Security mission in the wake of 9/11 and the Air Security Mission over the 2002 G8/G20 Summit in Kananaskis, Alberta.
Prior to retiring from the Air Force, Sullivan served at the rank of Major-General on a 12-month tour of duty in Afghanistan as NATO’s Air Component Commander and ISAF’s Deputy Chief of Joint Operations. As the theatre air commander, he commanded 10 coalition airfields and led military and civilian air operations country-wide, including combat air operations for NATO’s 42-nation coalition. As Deputy Chief of Joint Operations, he was the command approval authority of land and Special Forces’ operations, NATO’s Counter Narcotics Mission, and Theatre Strike Approval Authority for dynamic and time-sensitive targeting. Sullivan’s role also included mentoring Afghan government ministers and regional political leaders.
During his Air Force career as a professional aviator and fighter pilot, Sullivan accumulated over 3,500 hours flying jet aircraft, 1,600 of which were flown in the CF18 Hornet in the ground attack and air superiority roles. He has flown operational missions over Europe during the Cold War, the Persian Gulf, Bosnia, Croatia, Kosovo, Canada’s high Arctic, and the North Atlantic. He has commanded a Tactical Air Control Party, a CF18 Fighter Squadron, an Air Force Fighter Wing and Main Operating Base, and NATO ground and air forces during combat operations in Afghanistan.
Sullivan is a graduate of St. Lawrence College, Civil Engineering Technology; the Royal Military College of Canada, Military Arts and Science; the Royal Air Force Command and Staff College in Bracknell, UK; Canadian Forces College, Toronto, MA-level Advanced Military and National Security Studies Program; USAF Air University Air Component Commanders’ Program for General Officers in Montgomery, Alabama; and, NATO’s Tactical Leadership Program (TLP) in Jever, Germany.
April 2024