People of the Passage
December 2025

by Gail Haarsma—The Beacon caught up with Wing Commander Colonel (Col) Tara Willis and Wing Chief Warrant Officer (CWO) James McCarron, 95 days into their new command at 12 Wing Shearwater.

Col Willis is no stranger to the area. Her family keeps a house in Cow Bay, using it when posted here and renting it out during postings elsewhere. Her husband serves in the Navy, and over the past 25 years, the couple has moved back and forth between Ottawa headquarters and Halifax several times.

“The neighbours arrived with sourdough bread from Birdies,” said Willis. “This place feels like home and these people feel like family.”

For McCarron, this is the first time he and his family have lived on the East Coast. He said the community has been warm and kind, even leaving letters of welcome at his door.

“I’m hoping to be here for three years, and we want to enjoy every moment we’re here. It is a privilege to serve with the members at 12 Wing and a tremendous opportunity to serve the community as well,” explains McCarron.

Both Willis and McCarron bring extensive lived experience from postings around the world, including work at NORAD in Colorado Springs, the Middle East, Comox, Africa, and NATO Defence College in Rome.

Willis said her decision to join the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) came early in life, inspired by her grandfather, Donald Osborn McLean, the first pilot from Aylmer, Que.

“I listened to his stories all my life and joined the air cadets as a teen. I then went to the Royal Military College in Kingston, Ontario, which seemed like a logical continuation of a decision I made as a 12-year-old,” notes Willis.

McCarron said he was influenced by the Snowbirds, a familiar sight in his hometown of Moose Jaw, Sask. After years focused on sports, he began considering his future and chose the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) for its opportunities.

Willis said she and McCarron have three priorities for 12 Wing Shearwater:

Readiness: Ensuring helicopters are ready for ships, supply kits are stocked, aircrews are prepared, and aircraft maintenance is kept current. 

Resilience: Supporting members’ mental and physical health and strengthening personal connections.

Relevance: Ensuring weapons systems can overmatch adversaries in contested environments.

“We are investing in people and developing our own leaders. We are also focused on wellness—not only for our members but for our community. We have scheduled events over the next year to fall on PD days for our children, so we have the opportunity to expose families to what we do every day,” added McCarron.

Among the initiatives launched by the 12 Wing command team is “Welcome Wednesdays,” where McCarron greets members at the gate, so they feel seen and valued.

McCarron leads the “Wing Chief’s Workout,” inviting members to join him at the gym once a month. He and Col Willis are also looking forward to SnowFest in February, which brings families together for sports, face painting, a bouncy castle, and sledding.

“We’re not doing ‘big, giant things,’ but little ones that build on what we already have. I love the vibe of the Bluenose Bienvenue, where new families are welcomed into the community. For example, our members were connected with people who can pet-sit while they are deployed. As well, we help facilitate mental health support so that we can all connect with each other and get the services we need,” explains Willis.

The Beacon specifically asked Commander Willis about women in the military and what advice she would offer to those considering a CAF career.

“Every woman’s lived experience in the military is different. Mine was positive. At 21, I formed a trust relationship with my Master Warrant Officer and asked him what changed in the forces when women arrived. He said, ‘The biggest change was in the smell—the men started brushing their teeth, showering, and wearing clean clothes more often,” Willis reminisced. “I’m proud to work in an organization where every case of sexual assault is worthy of taking action. I trust both of my daughters to this organization.”

Willis also noted that the CAF is hiring and offering a $40,000 signing bonus for certain occupations. She said engineers, in particular, can find career-building opportunities not typically available “on the street,” including the opportunity for those in their 20s to manage large projects and teams early in their careers.

McCarron’s message to Beacon readers is that 12 Wing is happy to be present and active in the broader community. He said he looks forward to seeing more local participation in 12 Wing initiatives such as the RCAF Run.

Willis emphasized the Wing’s responsibility to be ready to protect Canada and North America. She described being impressed by a recent call for search-and-rescue support in New Brunswick on a Friday afternoon. The primary SAR Cormorant helicopters were already engaged, and the ask came for the Cyclone community to support. On a Friday afternoon, they had only one aircraft available. In short order, the team boosted that number from one to three helicopters, with crews deployed for the weekend.

Willis’s final reflections were on the teamwork she has already witnessed. “I am proud of what 12 Wing does every day. We have exceptional leaders, and I’m grateful for the incredible leadership teams we have here.”

Stay tuned for more news from 12 Wing. It will be providing updates to The Beacon on a regular basis.

Originally from Hull, Québec, Col Tara Willis is an Aerospace Engineer, having spent most of her career at every rank, supporting the CH-124 Sea King and introducing the CH-148 Cyclone helicopters.

CWO James McCarron enrolled in the RCAF as an Aerospace Control Operator in 2001. He progressed through the ranks and in 2021, following promotion to CWO, he was appointed as the Canadian Element NORAD Formation CWO, serving the professionals and their families in NORAD and Space across the USA and Greenland.