Former Fleet Chief takes on new role with MFRC

CPO1 (Retired) Sylvain Jaquemot

Peter Mallett
Staff Writer
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Even though CPO1 Sylvain Jaquemot has retired from the navy – his last post being Fleet Chief – he will continue to support Pacific Fleet sailors and their families, this time out of uniform. 

The Military Family Resource Centre (MFRC) Esquimalt has lured him to a newly created civilian post – that of Base and Fleet Liaison.

“As Fleet Chief, Sylvain was an ex-officio member of our Board of Directors and provided sage advice and guidance to the board and to me in my role as Executive Director,” says Jackie Carlé. “He is well respected in this community and has always taken a great interest in supporting military families, especially those impacted by deployments and operations.”

With 33 years of service in the Royal Canadian Navy, CPO1 (Retired) Jaquemot is well set to advise the MFRC on the needs of military members.

“For me, this is a little payback after such an enjoyable career. It’s my effort to continue to support our sailors, engage with command teams, and liaise with MFRC staff for deployments and activities.”

Jaquemot began his military career in 1987 as a Naval Electronic Sensor Operator and spent the majority of his career in Esquimalt. He served aboard HMCS Qu’Appelle, HMCS Mackenzie, HMCS Kootenay, HMCS Algonquin, HMCS Ottawa as part of its commissioning crew, and HMCS Winnipeg as the Above Water Warfare Director. In 2008, he joined the Canadian Fleet Pacific Staff as Chief Naval Electronic Sensor Operator. In 2014, he became Chief Instructor in the Leadership Division of Naval Fleet School Pacific and was promoted to his current rank in 2015. Jaquemot was appointed Fleet Chief in May 2018. He was succeeded as Fleet Chief by CPO1 Arvid Lee in a Change of Appointment Ceremony at Duntze Head on April 27.

His new job requires stellar communication skills, bridging the civilian and military worlds to enhance understanding between the two.

“Military and civilian talk are sometimes quite different, so it will be a key responsibility for me to understand what the navy is demanding in its MFRC partnership, such as what programs and support our sailors and their families need,” he says. “It will be critical to point out where there is a lack of understanding or what programs we need to develop further, and also to support MFRC management on how to properly communicate their questions to military members.”

For more information on the MFRC visit esquimaltmfrc.com

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