Thomas James Lawson was born on November 2nd, 1957 in Etobicoke, Ontario. His father George Lawson served during World War II as a fighter pilot, having first flown the P-51 Mustangs with the RAF’s 239 Squadron and then later the Spitfire with the RCAF’s 414 Squadron. Tom’s maternal grandfather Norman Moran flew the Sopwith Camels with the Royal Flying Corps just prior to the end of World War I and then later joined up again during WW II and served as a Squadron Commander alongside American forces in Alaska. Tom’s paternal grandfather, and namesake, Thomas Lawson, also served during WW I, but kept his feet on the ground, as a rifleman with the Canadian Corps on the perilous Western Front.

True to his lineage, Tom Lawson enrolled in the Canadian Forces in 1975 and attended the Royal Military College in Kingston. As a portent of things to come, he quickly stood out, earning the Queen’s University Challenge Shield as the top First Year cadet and then was selected as the Cadet Wing Commander for his final year in 1978/79 and was awarded the prestigious Sword of Honour as the top all around graduate. He graduated in 1979 with a Bachelor in Science in Engineering, majoring in Electrical Engineering.

Following graduation from RMC, Tom undertook flying training with 2 CFFTS Squadron in Moose Jaw on the CT-114 Tutor jet trainer. After successfully completing his training in 1980, he had the distinct privilege of having his father George pin his wings on him during the graduation parade. Given his high standing on the course, and wanting to follow in the footsteps of his father and grandfather, he requested and was afforded the opportunity to train on fighter jets at CFB Cold Lake in Alberta, first on the CF-5 Freedom Fighter, followed by the CF-104 Starfighter. He completed the course in 1981 and was awarded the top graduate trophy, thus becoming a third generation Canadian fighter pilot.

Tom was then posted overseas on his first operational tour, to CFB Baden-Soellingen in Germany with 421 Squadron flying the CF- 104s as part of Canada’s contribution to NATO during the Cold War. In 1985, following his four-year tour there, he returned to Canada to complete a Master’s Degree in Electrical Engineering through RMC, and then went on to serve as a professor at the College. Promoted to Major in 1988, General Lawson was posted to Montgomery, Alabama, to attend the United States Air Force (USAF) Air Command and Staff College. During that time, he also completed a Master’s Degree in Public Administration at Auburn University. He was posted back to CFB Cold Lake, in 1991, to undertake CF-18 Hornet training, where once again he performed extremely well, earning both the Top Gun and Top Overall Graduate awards. He was then posted overseas to Germany for his second operational tour, this time with 421 and 439 Squadrons.

Following the closure of CFB Baden-Soellingen, Tom was posted back to CFB Cold Lake where he was assigned to 410 Squadron as the Officer in Charge of the Fighter Weapons Instructor School, a role that included him also instructing on the CF-18s. In 1996, Tom was posted to Ottawa as a career manager and soon after was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel. Then in 1998, while still serving in Ottawa, he was appointed Commanding Officer of 412 (Transport) Squadron flying the CC-144 Challenger which provided executive transport for senior government officials and foreign dignitaries as well as supporting other military missions around the world. Upon completion of that assignment in 2000, he was placed in charge of career management for the Air Force, during which time he also completed the USAF Air War College Program. Promoted to Colonel in 2003, General Lawson held various staff positions within the Air Force before joining the CAF Transformation Team in 2005. He led the stand-up of the Strategic Joint Staff organization which was created in order to address a critical need for unified military planning and execution, especially during times of conflict.

Posted to 8 Wing Trenton in 2006, Tom completed a year as the Wing Commander before being promoted to Brigadier-General. In May of 2007 he once again returned to RMC and in a full circle moment was appointed Commandant of the military college he first attended in 1975. In 2009, General Lawson was promoted to Major-General and appointed Assistant Chief of the Air Staff. In July 2011, he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-General and posted to Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado, where he assumed responsibility as the Deputy Commander North American Aerospace Defence Command. Tom was promoted to General and was formally appointed as the Canadian Forces’ 18th Chief of the Defence Staff on October 29, 2012, taking over from fellow Class of 79 member, General Walt Natynczyk. As such, he was the first to take over from a fellow classmate, and while he was not the first former Cmdt appointed to that position, having been a cadet at RMC when General (Retd) John de Chastelain was the Cmdt, he is believed to be the only officer who returned to teach full-time at RMC to have reached that lofty position. As CDS, Tom oversaw the completion of the Canadian mission in Afghanistan; the deployment of Canadian troops to Eastern Europe as part of NATO’s response following Russian aggression in Crimea; and Canada’s contribution to the coalition effort against the Islamic State. He retired on 1 July 2015 but given his extensive military experience, including at the very highest levels, he was a sought after strategic consultant as well as taking on various speaking engagements and being involved in panel discussions. In 2025, he accepted the prestigious and influential role as Chair of the Conference of Defence Associations Institute, which consists of some 45 associations representing over 400,00 retired and active Canadian Armed Forces members and whose mission, in consultation with the various Defence associations, is to advance informed debate on national security issues.

Below Tom during Wings parade at CFB Moose Jaw in 1980, in the front row beside 2 CFFTS Cmdt LCol Morrison (fourth from the right)

Below, Tom with his father George and his son Benjamin on the steps of the War Memorial in Ottawa, in this Year of the Veteran poster from 2005. Benjamin was at RMC at the time but subsequently undertook flying training as well, thus becoming not only the 4th generation in that family to have served in the Canadian military, but also a 4th generation pilot. Benjamin’s younger brother, Jack, later also became a graduate of RMC and joined the RCAF as aircrew on maritime helicopters. 

In October of 2012, Tom becoming the 18th Chief of Defence Staff, during handover ceremonies with the 17th Chief of Defence Staff, and fellow Class of 1979 classmate General Walt Natynczyk. Presiding over the handover was His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of Canada . Of note, this was the first time that one member of a graduating class had followed another into the position since the position of CDS was created in 1964. (from the eVeritas article).

Tom still playing hockey as CDS, and in fact, he has continued to play well in to his late 60s.

Tom, has been a lifelong Leafs fan so shortly after being appointed CDS, in December of 2012, other Class of 79 members serving in the Ottawa region hosted a get together at the Navy Officers Mess and presented him with a Leafs jersey, emblazoned of course with the C and also the number 18, as the 18th Chief of Defence Staff.

Tom and his wife Kelly at the Old Brigade Reunion parade in September 2024.