Colonel Robert Tyler

Director Air Requirements Royal Canadian Air Force

Colonel Robert Tyler joined the Canadian Army Reserve in 1992 as a Gunner with 15th Field Regiment in Vancouver, British Columbia and later commissioned as an Artillery Officer. After graduating from the University of British Columbia with a Bachelor of Science in Cellular Biology, he transferred to the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) as a Pilot. After receiving his wings in 2003, Colonel Tyler was selected for helicopter pilot training and posted to 408 Tactical Helicopter Squadron (408 THS) in Edmonton, Alberta, flying the CH146 Griffon. During his time at 408 THS, Colonel Tyler completed his first deployment to Afghanistan, as a member of the Tactical Air Control Party in Kandahar. Colonel Tyler was then posted to Townsville, Australia where he flew the CH-47D Chinook with C Squadron, 5th Aviation Regiment, returning to Kandahar, Afghanistan in 2010 to fly with the Australian Army Chinook Detachment. Upon his return to Canada in 2012, Colonel Tyler assisted in the stand-up of 450 Tactical Helicopter Squadron (450 THS) and the introduction of the CH147F Chinook. Upon promotion to Major in 2013, he took over as the first operational CH147F Flight Commander. In 2018 Colonel Tyler was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel while serving with the RCAF Headquarters in Ottawa, Ontario. In 2019 he deployed as the Chief of Staff for Air Task Force-Mali as part of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) and Canada’s Operation PRESENCE-Mali. In 2020 Colonel Tyler took Command of 450 THS, leading the Squadron through the COVID-19 pandemic while ensuring Chinook support to Canadians during multiple domestic missions in response to the pandemic and other natural disasters. In 2022, Colonel Tyler completed language training followed by a short posting to Chief Force Development. He was promoted to his current rank in 2024 and is currently Director Air Requirements, within the RCAF Headquarters. Colonel Tyler is a graduate of the Army Operations Course (2013) and the Joint Command and Staff Program (2017), where he earned a Master’s Degree in Defence Studies from the Royal Military College of Canada.