18 OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2020 www.vanguardcanada.com
interview
BY MARCELLO SukHDEO
IntervIew wIth Commodore
Christopher robinson,
DIrector General
naval Force
Development,
royal canaDIan navy
CANADA'S FUTURE
the capaBIlItIeS anD challenGeS oF
T
he Royal Canadian Navy is poised at a crucial point
in its history – ready and waiting to accept its future
fleet of ships that will shape the future RCN. With the
current and evolving maritime threats, having a fleet
of modern vessels to defend at home and abroad is im-
perative to any navy and Canada is at that point of acquiring a future
fleet of Canadian Surface Combatants, Harry DeWolf-class Arctic
and Offshore Patrol Ships, Protecteur-class Joint Support Ships and
modernized Victoria-class submarines to do just that.
Recently, Vanguard had the opportunity to speak with Commo-
dore Christopher Robinson, Director General Naval Force Develop-
ment, Royal Canadian Navy. Commodore Robinson began his mili-
tary career in the Canadian Army Reserves as a Combat Engineer
serving in the 3rd Field Engineer Regiment in Montréal. Following
university graduation, he joined the Royal Canadian Navy and un-
derwent Naval Warfare Officer training aboard patrol craft, mine-
sweepers and destroyers, before volunteering for the silent service.
From that time, he served in Her Majesty's Canadian Submarines
Onondaga, Ojibwa, Victoria, Corner Brook, Windsor, and Her Maj-
esty's Submarine Unseen. He commanded Corner Brook between
June 2007 and July 2009. He was appointed as the inaugural Com-
mander Submarine Sea Training in late 2011 and served in that role
until July 2014. Subsequently, he was appointed the Commander
of the Canadian Submarine Force and Commander 4th Maritime
Operations Group in June 2017.
His shore assignments included serving as Submarine Require-
ments Section Head and later as the Director of Naval Require-
ments. He assumed his current position as the Director General
Naval Force Development in July 2019.
