Vanguard Magazine

14 FEBRUARY/MARCH 2019 www.vanguardcanada.com I n 2015, Cdr Corey L.E. Gleason was appointed the Commanding Officer of the future HMCS Har- ry DeWolf, the first of six Arctic Offshore Patrol Vessels that is be- ing built for the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) through the National Ship- building Strategy (NSS). Cdr Gleason has a wealth of knowl- edge and experience that he brings to his current role by serving in different posi- tions in the RCN for over three decades. Originally from Welland, ON, Cdr Corey Gleason joined the RCN in the summer of 1985 and began his training as a Naval Signalman in Esquimalt B.C. He was assigned to HMCS Protecteur in Halifax N.S. upon completion of his training. While in Halifax, he served in multiple ships, participated in many other NATO exercises, and was support staff to Standing Naval Force Atlantic. In 1991, he was recruited to the West Coast to serve in the Training Squad- ron. While serving in Esquimalt B.C., he was crew to several ships including HMCS Ottawa where he deployed for Operation APOLLO in support of the war on terrorism. Cdr Corey Gleason commissioned from the ranks in November 2003 and on completion of formal Officer Training in College militaire royal de Saint-Jean, NOTC VENTURE and HMCS White- horse, he served as Deck Officer, Navigat- ing Officer and Combat Officer in every class of ship in the Maritime Pacific. interview Cdr Gleason demonstrated a passion for the Arctic early in his career as a Navi- gator and was given his first opportunity to proceed to the Western Arctic in sum- mer of 2009. It was there where he met his Arctic Mentor, CCG Commander (re- tired) Norman Thomas, who has worked with Cdr Gleason throughout the years as Gleason honed his skills and proficiency to command an Arctic Offshore Patrol Vessel. Cdr Gleason went on to serve in Sea Training Pacific as Weapons Officer and took up his first command appointment to command HMCS Yellowknife. He proudly served as a roving ambassador to the City of Yellowknife and the Peoples of the North-West Territories and visited the City of Yellowknife before he was appointed Executive Officer to HMCS Ottawa. Cdr Gleason reported for duty in HMCS Ottawa and immediately de- ployed to join the fight against the illegal distribution of narcotics in South America as well as in North America, supporting Joint Interagency Task Force South. Af- ter delivering the ship into dry dock, Cdr Gleason was reassigned to Sea Training Pacific and appointed Executive Officer. As Executive Officer to Sea Training Pacific, he served on both coasts contrib- uting to the RCN's force generation and employment plans to support the em- ployment of combat capable, multi-pur- pose maritime forces to meet Canada's defence needs. Cdr Gleason has continued his work and studies in the Arctic domain and has been developing RCN policy and proce- dures for future Arctic naval operations throughout his years of service. Cdr Gleason and his spouse France Chali- four of Quebec City are very proud to be part of Canada's naval history as he assumes command of Canada's first of class Arctic Offshore Patrol Vessel. Cdr Corey Gleason and his spouse currently reside in Halifax N.S. where they have the honour and privi- lege to acknowledge his appointment to command the future HMCS Harry DeWolf. Recently, Vanguard had the honour to speak with Cdr Gleason to get his take on the future HMCS Harry DeWolf, the larg- est RCN ship built in Canada in the last five decades. Q Cdr Gleason, firstly, thanks for tak- ing the time to speak with us. It must be exciting to be given the opportunity to be the Commanding Officer of the future HMCS Harry DeWolf. How would you de- scribe your initial thoughts when you were appointed as the Commanding Officer? Firstly, I was incredibly honoured to have been given the responsibility to help enable the RCN's transition to the future fleet in this special way. While the RCN has been able to conduct operations in Arctic waters in the past, the future HMCS Harry De- Wolf and the other ships in its class repre- sent a huge leap forward in terms of Can- ada's ability to preside over and monitor its northernmost waters. In saying this, the Commanders Corey Gleason (middle) and Michele Tessier (right) onboard Canadian Coast Guard Ship Louis St-Laurent as it navigates northward through the Franklin Strait region west of Prince of Wales Island. Photo Jacek Szymanski Cdr Corey Gleason (right) with his mentor CCG Captain Norman Thomas (le). Photo: Cdr Gleason.

• Cover