Darren was born in Canada in 1961. He joined the Canadian Air Force in 1980, receiving his Pilot’s wings in 1982. He was first assigned as a Jet Instructor on the Canadair Tutor. After almost five years in that position he was posted to Canada’s Lead-in-fighter, the CF-5. Upon completion of that he was then posted to the CF-18 Operational Conversion Unit.


Once fully qualified as a F-18 fighter pilot, Darren was posted to 421 Sqn in West Germany for a three year tour with NATO. The operational base where he worked was only 20 minutes flying time to the enemies’ borders.


Darren was then posted back to Canada to become an F-18 Instructor, where he trained fledgling fighter pilots for 2 1⁄/2 years. He was then selected to be an Air Liaison Officer to the Army Brigade Commander. Darren and his family immigrated to Australia in 1996 due to a shortage of F-18 Fighter Pilots in Australia.


Darren joined the RAAF, initially serving with 76 Sqn in Williamtown as a Lead-in Fighter instructor on the MB-326 Macchi. One year later he was posted back to flying F-18s operationally with 77 Sqn in Williamtown. While with 77 Sqn he was able to conduct exercises in New Zealand with A-4 Skyhawks and fight against the Mig-29 aircraft of Malaysia.


Darren left the RAAF in December 1999 to take up his current employment flying business jets. He displays the Vampire, Meteor, Canberra and A37B Dragonflys.