Vanguard Magazine

12 OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2021 www.vanguardcanada.com INTERVIEW UPGRADING THE VICTORIA-CLASS SUBMARINES BY MARCELLO SUKHDEO AGAINST CURRENT AND EVOLVING THREATS AN INTERVIEW WITH CAPTAIN(N) JEAN STÉPHANE OUELLET, MSC CD, COMMANDER CANADIAN SUBMARINE FORCE In 2016, HMCS Chicoutimi prepares to conduct camber dives submerged off F Jetty. The camber dives verify the sub's watertight integrity, as well as the functionality of the weapon system and other key systems. Photo DND R ecently, Vanguard had the opportunity to talk with Capt(N) Jean Sté- phane Ouellet about the Victoria-class Modernization project and the current status of Canada's submarines. As a native of Cap-Rouge, Que- bec, Capt(N) Jean Stéphane Ouellet joined the Canadian Armed Forces in 1991 and completed a Bachelor degree in History at the Royal Mili- tary College of Canada in 1996. On completion of his Naval Warfare Officer training, he immediately joined the submarine service and was awarded his Dolphins in 1999 after serving onboard both HMCS Ojibwa and Onondaga. He then proceeded to the United Kingdom to undergo conversion training for the newly acquired Victoria Class submarines. After serving onboard various surface ships namely HMCS Anticosti, Halifax and Toronto as a Bridge Watchkeeper, he completed his Underwater Warfare Director Course in 2002 and joined the crew of HMCS Corner Brook as the Sonar Officer for her initial voyage to Canada in 2003. Shortly after he was selected for an exchange with the Dutch Submarine Service for which he attended a one-year language training in Ottawa to learn Dutch. Between 2004 and 2006 he served on all four Walrus Class submarines in various positions and was awarded his Dutch Dolphins. He returned to Canada in 2006 and served as a submarine controller in Halifax for two years before completing the Submarine ORO Course in 2009. After a short stint as Windsor Combat Officer, he was selected for a second exchange posting this time with the Australian Submarine Service between 2010 and 2013. During his time down under, he served as Sonar Officer and subsequently as Operations Officer on board HMAS Waller and Collins. He was then selected by the RAN to serve as Executive Officer onboard HMAS Dechaineux from 2012 until the end of his posting overseas. Upon his return to Canada, he served as Executive Officer of HMCS Chicoutimi. He then successfully completed the Norwegian Submarine Command Course in April 2015 and took Command of HMCS Victoria. He then assumed Command of HMCS Chicoutimi in 2016 and completed OP POSEIDON CUTLASS 17-3 in 2018, which was the longest and furthest Victoria Class submarine deployment ever attempted. The historical deployment also marked the return of a Canadian submarine presence in the Asia Pacific since 1968. In June 2018, he assumed Command of HMCS Victo- ria for a second time. Capt(N) Ouellet was promoted to his current rank and assumed Command of the Canadian Submarine Force in June 2019.

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