Vanguard Magazine

18 AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2020 www.vanguardcanada.com interview Canada Partners with Industry to Keep BY MARCELLO SuKHDEO IntervIew wIth Capt(N) Keith CoffeN, DIrector MarItIMe equIpMent prograM Manage- Ment (SubMarIneS) victoria-Class C anada is partnering with in- dustry to keep its Victoria- class submarines operational into the mid-2030s. These submarines are used by the Royal Canadian Navy in various roles in conducting surveillance, supporting mari- time law-enforcement in areas like investi- gating narcotics trafficking, smuggling and polluting cases, and other domestic and in- ternational operations. The Victoria-class submarines are well-equipped and are ca- pable of patrolling over vast areas. Recently, Vanguard had the opportunity to speak with Capt(N) Keith Coffen about the Victoria-class submarines. Capt(N) Coffen has been involved with the Victo- ria-class submarines at almost every step of the way, including service as part of the Submarine Capability Life Extension project detachment in the U.K., service in Fleet Maintenance Facility CAPE SCOTT as PM for Victoria-class Canadianization, service in the United States as Canada's first liaison officer to the US Navy's Pro- gram Executive Officer – Submarines and Team Submarine, and service in NDHQ's Materiel Group in a wide array of subma- rine sustainment roles. As a native Newfoundlander, Keith Coffen was commissioned as an officer of the Canadian Armed Forces in 1995. Trained as a Naval Combat Systems En- gineer, he served at sea in HMCS Regina and Huron before volunteering for sub- marine service. He completed his subma- rine qualification in 2000 aboard HMCS Onondaga and later served as the Combat Systems Engineering Officer on HMCS Windsor from 2004 to 2006. In non-submarine roles, he served as the Deputy Chief of Staff for Engineer- ing Operations in Maritime Forces Atlantic HQ, and briefly as Chief of Staff for the Canadian Surface Combatant project. Today, Capt(N) Coffen serves in NDHQ's Materiel Group as Director Mar- itime Equipment Program Management (Submarines), the office with primary re- sponsibility for submarine platform and equipment sustainment in Canada. Q Given that the Victoria-class sub- marines have been in service with the RCN for 20 years, what do you see as the challenges ahead to keep them opera- tionally relevant in the second half of its in-service life? The Victoria-class was an extremely cost- effective acquisition for Canada, but I know I will not surprise anyone if I note that the sustainment of this fleet in Canada has been a challenge. So for me, the foundation of en- suring that the class is operationally relevant in what you refer to as the second half of its in-service life is to ensure that we can con- tinue to sustain it and keep it operationally available. Along these lines, there are three distinct challenges that I will highlight. First is the supply chain. As most of your readers will be aware, the Victoria-class be- gan its life as the Royal Navy's Upholder- class and were built in the United Kingdom operatIonal for YearS to coMe

• Cover