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CONR deputy commander receives prestigious Canadian award

Brig. Gen. Christopher Coates shakes hand with Governor General David Johnston, the representative of Queen Elizabeth II, after being presented with the Order of Military Merit during a ceremony Feb. 18 at Rideau Hall in Ottawa, Canada. General Coates was inducted as an Officer of the Order of Military Merit, which is Canada’s second-highest honor for its military members. (Canadian Forces photo by Sergeant Serge Gouin)

CONR deputy commander receives prestigious Canadian award

Brig. Gen. Christopher Coates, Continental U.S. North American Aerospace Defense Command Region deputy commander, shows the medals he’s earned throughout his career, to include his most recent – the Order of Military Merit, which is Canada’s second-highest honor for its military members. General Coates was inducted as an Officer of the Order of Military Merit in a ceremony Feb. 18 at Rideau Hall in Ottawa, Canada, by Governor General David Johnston, the representative of Queen Elizabeth II. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Jerry Harlan)

CONR deputy commander receives prestigious Canadian award

Published March 15, 2011
By Angela Pope
AFNORTH Public Affairs

TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- The deputy commander of Continental U.S. North American Aerospace Defense Command Region recently joined an elite group of Canadian Forces when he received a highly prestigious award.

Brig. Gen. Christopher Coates was inducted as an Officer in the Order of Military Merit in a ceremony Feb. 18 at Rideau Hall in Ottawa, Canada, by Governor General David Johnston, the representative of Queen Elizabeth II.

"It's a fantastic honor to be recognized by my superiors, the chief of the defense staff and the governor general," General Coates said. "None of us who wear the uniform do this to get an award. So when it does happen, it's a pleasant surprise."

The Order of Military Merit, Canada's second-highest honor for its military members, is awarded to those who demonstrate dedication and devotion beyond the call of duty.

"We are extremely proud of General Coates for being selected for this honor," said Maj. Gen. Garry C. Dean, CONR commander. "He has had a distinguished career, and he truly exemplifies the characteristics the award seeks to recognize. We couldn't be happier to have such a fine leader as our deputy."

The OMM is awarded at three different classes: member, officer and commander.

Lt. Gen. J.M. Duval, NORAD deputy commander, was inducted as a Commander in the Order of Military Merit, and he understands what an honor it is to be chosen for the award.

"Those who have received the OMM are a distinguished few," General Duval said. "I am delighted General Coates has received this recognition. He has performed admirably throughout his career, and he is thoroughly deserving of this award."

Because the meaning behind the OMM is so significant, the number of people who can receive it each year is capped at just 0.1 percent of the total Canadian Forces population. Of that small group, only 30 percent can receive the officer-level award.

In the 29 years since the OMM's inception in 1972, only 3,000 CF members have received the award.

"We're all Canadians with a love of country," General Coates said. "We'd be out doing our jobs even if honors like this didn't exist."

General Coates started his career flying helicopters in Germany. Since then, his travels have sent him around the world with assignments in Canada, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Haiti, Honduras, Kosovo and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

More recently, before taking the reins as CONR's deputy, General Coates completed a tour in Afghanistan where he served as the first-ever commander of the Joint Task Force Afghanistan Air Wing in Kandahar. The general received the Meritorious Service Medal for his achievements during that deployment.

"I've had a challenging career, and I've done my best to overcome those challenges," General Coates said. "I'm truly humbled."