Written by Noah Cote, Communications Manager, The Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce.

In recognition of International Women’s Day, The Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce sat down with Colonel Jody Hanson, who in June, 2024, became the first woman Commander of 17 Wing/CFB Winnipeg. We talked about leadership, resilience, and the importance of representation in leadership roles.  

Noah Cote: Colonel Hanson, thank you for joining me. I want to start by asking you about your journey into the military, what led you to where you are today? 

Colonel Jody Hanson: Thank you for having me.  

I grew up in Saskatchewan: born and raised a farm girl. I’ve had a lot of responsibility from a young age: cattle chores, farming chores, things of that nature.  

At 19, shortly after high school, I joined the military. I wanted a bit of excitement, and the travel looked exciting to me in all the advertisements you see as a young farm girl. In addition to that, I was really, really excited about the fact that I could get an education and a guaranteed job after graduation. 

I started my career as an Air Combat Systems Officer flying on the CC130 Hercules, before transitioning into Aerospace Control. Over the years, I’ve deployed around the world, taken on leadership roles and now serve as Commander of 17 Wing /CFB Winnipeg – a role I take great pride in. It’s been an incredible journey, and I often thank my 19-year-old self for making such an amazing decision. 

NC: What has your experience been as a woman in a leadership role within the RCAF? 

CJH: This June, I’ll have been in the military 29 years…

NC: Congratulations.  

CJH: Thank you. A very long time – makes me feel older and wiser, let’s put it that way.  

I was often the only woman in the room – the only woman officer in meetings, units, and decision-making spaces. That’s changed significantly over the years – it’s not quite 50-50, but there are so many more awesome, smart women leaders and decision makers, which is important because I think women bring a different perspective on leadership.  

We tend to focus more on collaboration, and I think it brings teams together really well when you’re trying to solve a complex problem. It keeps your team synchronized when each person feels valued and empowered to speak up and share their ideas. You generate more discussion, and then we put plans in place to keep timelines going and meet deadlines, so it works really well. 

My previous job was the CAOC Director [A3/Combined Aerospace Operations Center Director] at 1 Canadian Air Division/Canadian NORAD Region Headquarters] which means I was the operations manager for the Royal Canadian Air Force. I was planning operations across the world, assigning multiple aircraft and assets from all over Canada, sending them around the world.  

The only way I feel like we achieved success during my tenure is by pursuing collaboration and synchronization relentlessly. 

NC: How so? 

CJH: First, set your battle rhythm – which just means I set touch points and create the environment, whether it’s a meeting or a call. You have to deliberately plan to bring people together because we’re all busy. If you don’t, it doesn’t happen. 

Second, when you’re in the meeting, give everyone the opportunity to speak up. I literally point at people and I ask, “what do you have to say?” I could probably smooth that out a bit to make our junior members feel more comfortable, but I want them to know that I truly want to hear from them and that their ideas will help our plan be better. 

If someone shares an idea that doesn’t end up in the solution, I quickly give feedback because I don’t want somebody walking away feeling like I thought it wasn’t a good one. It’s not that at all – it just might not be pertinent to the scenario. So to close that loop, they have to understand why you made that decision. 

Time management is also a key aspect; making sure that everyone has time to speak and then knows what their next step is. 

I made sure everybody felt like they could speak up and the results spoke for themselves. And I see other women do that a lot.  

I’ve been fortunate to have incredible women role models like Major-General (Ret’d) Tammy Harris, who paved the way for many of us. My hope is that by being visible in my past and current roles, I can inadvertently be a role model for young women in the Forces. Whether I’m attending meetings, giving direction and guidance or public speaking, my hope is that I am providing them with an example of what they can strive for as well.  

NC: What advice would you give to young women aspiring to leadership roles, whether in military or in business? 

CJH: First, just go for it. Don’t wait until you feel 100% ready; growth happens outside of your comfort zone. Leadership is about learning, adapting, and making decisions with confidence. If you make a mistake here or there, you need to see it as a moment of learning instead of criticizing yourself. I know this is easier to say than do, because I still struggle with that myself. 

Second, be authentic and humble. The main time you learn is when you have the courage to admit that you don’t know something. Faking it doesn’t help anyone; it creates poor solutions and can create awkwardness and friction in relationships. Admit you don’t know, and then immediately ask, “how can I learn?” 

Lastly, consistency is key – especially in leadership. For example, those synchronization meetings – I consistently put them in the calendar. It’s a small thing, but over years, you develop massive results like a strong culture, and a team you trust and who trusts you. 

When you’re going for it in an authentic, open way, consistently, doors will open. Not because of luck, but because you’ve put in the discipline and developed the habits that lead to success. 

NC: Can you walk me through a typical day in the life of the Commander of 17 Wing? 

CJH: Yes, it’s fun actually. I have a lot of meetings, but that’s part of the role. I show up a bit early to get an hour of alone time with my email inbox. Then the majority of my day is spent on comms and outreach within the Wing, visiting different units and members, and showing support and providing direction.  

The other big part is community outreach. For example, I attend different Board of Director meetings, have periodic touchpoints with City representatives and military reps in the Manitoba legislation. So if I’m not focusing on the Wing/Base, I’m focusing on the community. I sort of see myself as the “mayor” of the Wing/Base, meeting people and building relationships that will benefit our members and the community.   

Since I started this job six months ago, I’ve learned so much about Winnipeg, too. I get to attend many different functions and meet different companies and organizations that were created and operate here in Winnipeg. I had no idea, so it’s been a great learning opportunity. 

NC: What makes Winnipeg a unique place to live, work, and lead?  

CJH: Winnipeg is very welcoming. That was my first impression upon starting this role. For example, I am a member of the board of directors for Grace Hospital and United Way Winnipeg. Upon meeting the other members for the first time, everybody stuck their hands out, ready to welcome me and connect – I felt naturally included right away.  

Sometimes in the military when you get posted to a new place, you have to re-establish your credibility and relationships. There are definitely times I’ve felt that way. But here, this group of professionals is just really great – at every event. Winnipeggers are also very generous, and people just naturally want to help out. It’s a city where people look out for each other, where businesses support one another, and there’s a strong connection between the private sector and the community. 

I’ve heard so many stories about Winnipeggers who have lived in the city their whole life and about the interconnections between people in the city. For such a big city, there is actually a small-town vibe. That really helps me to make links with community leaders to support 17 Wing/CFB Winnipeg members, Canadian Forces members, and their families who are living and working in Winnipeg. 

NC: What are you hoping to get out of your Chamber membership? 

CJH: I want to advocate for our Wing. We have over 2,500 people including family members, which is a large pool of people who are living, working, and contributing to the community. It would be wonderful to create new connections between Wing members, their families and local businesses and other organizations within the City of Winnipeg. The opportunities for collaboration and relationship building are endless, and being a Chamber member is an excellent way to initiate that.  

The Canadian Forces Base in Winnipeg is celebrating our 100th anniversary this year, so we’re excited to invite every Chamber member to our CFB Winnipeg 100th Anniversary Dinner on Friday, April 11. We’ll be putting on lots of events your members can find on our website. 

Ultimately, my goal is to ensure that every Winnipegger knows there’s a military base in Winnipeg with dedicated service members contributing to Canada’s sovereignty and safety every day. We’ve been here for 100 years, and we’ll continue to strengthen our partnerships, advocate for our members, and be a vital part of Winnipeg’s landscape.  

NC: Thank you for your time, Colonel Hanson. 

CJH: Thank you. 

With nearly three decades of service in the Royal Canadian Airforce, Colonel Hanson has led operations around the world, broken barriers, and made strong teams a key to success. 

Connect with Colonel Hanson on LinkedIn 

Learn more about 17 Wing/CFB Winnipeg 

Join Colonel Hanson and 17 Wing/CFB Winnipeg for their Canadian Forces Base Winnipeg 100th Anniversary Dinner

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