New base commander at CFB Suffield

By James Tubb
Southern Alberta Newspapers

There is a new base commander at CFB Suffield after a change of command ceremony held on July 20.

Lt.-Col. Joe E. Andrechek was installed as head at the military base located 40 kilometres northeast of Medicine Hat.

He replaces Lt.-Col. Stephen C. Burke, who was in charge of the base since July 2021. Rotations typically follow a two-year term.

Andrechek served in Afghanistan with the Royal Canadian Dragoons, rising to become a commanding officer of his squadron in 2014. He most recently served as the Canadian Liaison Officer at United States Central Command at Tampa, Fla.

He also holds a bachelor’s degree in nuclear science from the University of New Brunswick. He is married with two daughters.

Burke, an Afghanistan veteran, was previously the director of operations at Joint Task Force North Headquarters in Yellowknife before arriving at CFB Suffield in July 2021. His next posting is as an instructor at the Canadian Forces College in Toronto.

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