I
IntervIew
12 JUNE/JULY 2017 www.vanguardcanada.com
IntervIew
wIth
JeFFerY
hutchInson
Commissioner of the
Canadian Coast Guard
In March 2017, Jeffery Hutchinson was appointed
as the Commissioner of the Canadian Coast
Guard, serving previously in the position of
Deputy Commissioner, Strategy and Shipbuilding
from 2015 to 2017. Prior to this, Commissioner
Hutchinson held the positions of Director General,
National Strategies, and Director General,
Integrated Business Management Services.
Managing Editor of Vanguard, Marcello Sukhdeo
recently had the opportunity to speak with
Commissioner Hutchinson on his new role, his
focus and vision for the Canadian Coast Guard,
and his pressing needs on procurement.
Q: Firstly, knowing that you've been in your new role for just
only a few months, what's your assessment of your new
position?
This is a great job. This is a job where I get up, and I can't wait to
get to work every morning. I was promoted from within the Coast
Guard, so it's not as if the organization itself came as a big surprise
to me or anything like that. We've been working for some time
at building a very high quality management team in the Coast
Guard. I think we have a terrific team around the table. We have
a lot on our plates in terms of government priorities and advanc-
ing the mission of the organization. Although we've got some
big challenges like the Phoenix pay system, this is a job that it's
exciting. We've got people that are interested in being partners
with us. We're interested in growing those relationships, and we
believe there's never been a more exciting time to be in the Coast
Guard. There's never been a more exciting time to be at the helm.
Q: What is the focus and vision for the Canadian Coast Guard
under your leadership, and how is that different from your
predecessor?
My focus as Commissioner is very much going to be on the peo-
ple. We refer to people that work here as Coast Guard members. I
