Lt.-Gen. (Retd) Ashley became the first and only Royal Canadian Navy officer to command Canada's Air Force
August 9, 2025 Halifax, Nova Scotia Parks Canada
The Government of Canada proudly honours a Canadian whose service helped shape Canadian military capacity during the Cold War.
On Saturday, August 9, 2025, the Honourable David J. McGuinty, Minister of National Defence, and the Honourable Darren Fisher, Member of Parliament for Dartmouth-Cole Harbour, paid tribute to Lieutenant-General (Retd) Larry Ashley through Parks Canada's Hometown Heroes program on behalf of the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture and Minister responsible for Official Languages. The ceremony was held at the Shearwater Aviation Museum in the Halifax Regional Municipality in the presence of dignitaries and family members.
Born and raised in Simcoe, Ontario, Lt.-Gen. (Retd) Ashley was the first and only Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) officer to command Canada's Air Force. He helped pioneer the use of helicopters at sea and worked to make Canada's naval aviation community one of the most capable in the world during the Cold War. Destined for high command, he held key roles with Air Command (now the Royal Canadian Air Force) in Winnipeg, commanded CFB Shearwater, and contributed to NATO operations in Europe, where he was instrumental in implementing the crucial Airborne Warning and Control System, designed to detect aircraft, ships, and vehicles at long ranges and to control and command the battle space in an air engagement. Upon returning to Canada, he became the commander of Air Command, serving in this role until his retirement in 1989.
Throughout his career, Lt.-Gen. (Retd) Ashley worked to benefit his community. He has been involved with the Shearwater Aviation Museum for most of his life and was a founding Director of the Canada Science and Technology Museum Foundation. Forever the sailor, he served two decades on the board of Bytown Brigantine, a sailing program to benefit underprivileged youth.
