Major (Ret’d) Lynn Doucette

Growing up in Ingonish Beach, Nova Scotia, Lynn Doucette always knew she wanted to join the RCMP. When the time finally came, she was devastated to learn that a height requirement would keep her from realizing her dream. Undeterred, she set her sights on the military. Inspired by her brother in the Navy, she thought “maybe the Air Force might be okay” and ultimately found her lifelong career.

Lynn enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force in July 1979 and completed her basic training at CFB Cornwallis. Being older than most of her fellow trainees, her seniority and drive helped her graduate as the top female recruit in her class, earning Lynn the coveted Commandant’s Shield in the process. Her superiors quickly recognized her talent and focus and selected her for Officer training. “I feel that the ethics and code of discipline instilled by my parents, and just being a good Cape Bretoner, led to my successes. You’re hard working and you’re there to do a job the best that you can.” After completing Officer training, Lynn went to North Bay, Ontario, where she trained as an Air Weapons Controller.

“I feel that the ethics and code of discipline instilled by my parents, and just being a good Cape Bretoner, led to my successes. You’re hard working and you’re there to do a job the best that you can.”

In that role, Lynn’s main responsibility was to guide fighter pilots during their missions. By 1987, after just eight years of service, Lynn rose to the rank of Major.

Throughout her career, Lynn completed many international assignments, such as Montana and Alaska, and when Iraqi forces invaded Kuwait in 1990, Lynn had just arrived in Oklahoma for her next assignment – training on the Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS). AWACS aircraft provide Command & Control using a powerful radar that assists with airborne surveillance, communications and battle management. All of this was instrumental to ensuring air dominance during the Persian Gulf War.

Lynn was deployed to the region in April 1991. She was posted to an American Air base in Incirlik, Turkey where she became the first female Canadian Mission Crew Commander on a US AWACS aircraft. While up in the air, she coordinated with Generals on the ground, gave them a layout of the current radar picture, provided recommendations about the mission and provided courses of action. “Our aircraft could hold up to 40 crew members so you had to consider their safety as well as completing your mission for the Commander on the ground.”

Despite having this important responsibility, Lynn still faced barriers as a woman. At the airbase in Turkey, local cultural restrictions banned women from entering the operations centres, which meant Lynn could not attend the intelligence debriefings once the plane landed. Her male deputy attended on her behalf.

“Our aircraft could hold up to 40 crew members so you had to consider their safety as well as completing your mission for the Commander on the ground.”

One particularly tense moment stands out from Lynn’s time in the Persian Gulf. With no real defenses, AWACS aircraft are usually protected by fighter jets. On this occasion, with the fighter jets far ahead at the Kuwaiti border, the radar suddenly detected high speed aircraft from a neighboring country coming towards them. “We were considered a high value asset so to shoot us down would have been a huge win for them. As per procedures, we performed a ‘bug out’ by executing a rapid descent, a 180 degree turn and quickly exiting the area. It definitely raised the heart rate of all the crew members.”

After the war, Lynn participated in other AWACS missions including drug running patrols down in the Gulf of Mexico and intercepting Russian Bear aircraft in Alaska and Iceland. She then went on to become the first female Canadian Armed Forces Arms Control Inspectors where she helped former Warsaw Pact countries join NATO. While visiting these countries, Lynn became popular with citizens, who were not used to seeing a woman in uniform.

Lynn retired from the Royal Canadian Air Force in 2014. After 35 years in the military, she struggled during her transition to life after service but she had the support she needed: “VAC picked up the ball and helped me from day one.” Lynn now volunteers in her community of Chilliwack, B.C., with the Emergency Management team and the Royal Canadian Legion. She also conducts training sessions with the local fire department at her condominium complex.

With courage, integrity and loyalty, Lynn Doucette has left her mark. She is one of our Canadian Veterans. Discover more stories.