Vanguard Magazine

interView www.vanguardcanada.com FEBRUARY/MARCH 2018 19 der the NSS, are to be competitively ten- dered to companies other than Vancouver Shipyards and Irving Shipbuilding. In the shorter term, running repairs, dockings, and life extension activities will continue to occur. There will be an over- all increased requirement for the Canadian marine industry, both from the repair in- dustry and the manufacturers of some ma- rine equipment in the coming years. The marine industry, Public Services and Pro- curement Canada and the Canadian Coast Guard are working together to coordinate how best to optimize this in the future. The Coast Guard is playing a supporting role with PSPC, who at present are host- ing marine industry engagement sessions to improve sustainability and efficiencies. Together, we will continue to strengthen our partnerships with the Canadian ma- rine industry to build and maintain a Coast Guard Fleet with a vision for excellence. With the ship construction and refit work required to keep us afloat, I am con- fident that the Coast Guard fleet renewal plans are generators of many business op- portunities for all types of business sizes for years to come. Q Given the recent and rather low-key launch of CCGS Sir John Franklin, what other notable success stories are there? Although I love ships and shipbuilding, and I am passionate about the renewal of our fleet, we have to remember that Coast Guard ships remain tools that are used to deliver our missions. Every day I meet with our people – and I read the press – and learn about Coast Guard success stories across Canada. The Coast Guard is putting it on the line every day to save lives on the water; respond to marine pol- lution incidents; break ice to keep ports open and ferries running, deliver supplies to remote locations, and enable science at sea as scientists study the effect of climate change. Those are the success stories that Coast Guard ships allow each and every single day, and this is what is important to Canadians. To me, the renewal of our fleet is a suc- cess story only if those missions continue to be delivered day in and day out, in some of the harshest conditions on the planet. Don't get me wrong, the Coast Guard takes shipbuilding extremely seriously, and we continue to forge ahead with our fleet renewal efforts – in fact, we renewed our entire fleet of 22 helicopters on time and under budget, we launched three new vessels in 2017, and we will likely exceed that number in 2018. But we need these ships to continue to deliver Coast Guard missions, such as search and rescue, envi- ronmental response and protection, scien- tific missions, hydrographic surveys, aids to navigation, icebreaking, security, and fish- eries patrol. These are the notable stories that I wish Canadians had a greater under- standing of. Q In any organization there are obstacles, challenges and issues, if you had the means to magically fix anything within the Coast Guard, what would those areas be? I come at this question with a long-term viewpoint. Growing the institution both from a capital asset and an HR perspective takes time and patience, both within and without. There are bound to be obstacles and course corrections along the way, but the tide is flowing for the Coast Guard, and we need to keep our eye on the long game. The National Shipbuilding Strategy is recreating an entire industry; there are promising signs of success, but it will take time for the industry to mature. As a national and easily identifiable in- stitution, I think the Coast Guard is ide- ally positioned to reflect Canadian society. Historically it has been largely populated by white males. The Commissioner Jeffery Hutchinson has placed a high priority on diversity, and we are seeing an incremen- tal change here. As we grow the institu- tion, making it a workplace of choice for all Canadians is another area where time and consistent attention is needed to ensure that we achieve success. Q On a personal note, given your naval experience, how do you plan to use or are using that to benefit the Coast Guard? I have been blessed my entire professional career to have had opportunity, mentor- ing, professional development, great team- mates and the strategic and front-line chal- lenges that have allowed me to develop the technical abilities, personnel management, financial awareness, leadership skills and analytical mindset to come to this particu- lar position and hit the deck plates at full speed. The Coast Guard has smart and dedicated people who have a real sense of purpose and want to make the institution better. I have been warmly welcomed into the fold and view my role as one of a coach and enabler who can add perspective, re- move obstacles, keep priorities in line and provide gentle helm to get us to the next weigh point. It is a team effort. Q Looking forward, what are some of the strategies or programs of the Canadian Coast Guard that you are really excited about? I think the Coast Guard has boundless potential and is experiencing a renaissance of sorts. The recapitalization of the fleet is central to this renaissance, and I am par- ticularly jazzed to be a part of it. I hasten to add that this effort is part of the larger regeneration of the shipbuilding ecosystem in this country which, as a mariner and a naval architect, is very exciting to be in- volved with. I am also enthusiastic about the work the Coast Guard is part of with our partners at Fisheries and Oceans, Transport Canada, and Environment and Climate Change Canada under the Oceans Protection Plan banner. Taking just the specific topics of Problem Vessels and environmental re- sponse planning as examples, the work the Coast Guard is progressing will make a real contribution towards enhancing the gen- eral marine safety system. This ocean stew- ardship role is one that I find very stimulat- ing and satisfying.

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