Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy
Vice-Admiral Angus Topshee, OMM, MSM, CD
Vice-Admiral (VAdm) Angus Topshee is the 38th Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN). His diverse academic background includes military and civilian institutions on three continents. He has deployed in ships around the world and has accumulated countless sea stories involving pirates, sharks, terrorists, volcanoes, whales, fires, and all the other things which make life at sea a true adventure. The highlight of his time at sea was his far too brief command of Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Algonquin in 2009-2010 and, a close second, his three years in command of Canada’s Pacific Fleet. His shore postings include two tours in the Navy’s Strategy directorate as penance for all of his sea time, three years in command of Canadian Forces Base Halifax, and two years as the Deputy Director, Strategy, Policy, and Plans at NORAD and United States Northern Command Headquarters in Colorado Springs. He also deployed to Afghanistan for all of 2011 as the director of Afghan National Police Training within the NATO Training Mission Afghanistan. Over the course of his career, he has somehow been involved in Arctic issues at every one of his shore postings (except Afghanistan). Before taking command of the RCN in May 2022, VAdm Topshee had the honour and the pleasure of commanding Maritime Forces Pacific and Joint Task Force Pacific, located in Esquimalt, B.C.
VAdm Topshee’s career is enabled by his fantastically supportive wife, Audrey, and four tremendous daughters, Amy, Zoë, Charlotte, and Iris.
Commander Maritime Forces Pacific
Rear-Admiral Christopher Robinson, OMM, CD
Rear-Admiral Robinson grew up in Hudson Québec. He began his military career in the Canadian Army Reserves as a Combat Engineer serving in the 3rd Field Engineer Regiment in Montréal. He subsequently joined the Royal Canadian Navy and underwent Naval Warfare Officer training aboard patrol craft, mine-sweepers, and destroyers before volunteering for the silent service.
He served aboard the Canadian submarines Onondaga, Ojibwa, Victoria, Corner Brook, Windsor, and the British submarine Unseen. He was privileged to command Corner Brook between 2007 and 2009. During this command tour, in addition to normal fleet duties, Corner Brook deployed to the Canadian North for Operation Nanook and the Caribbean Sea to conduct a counter-drug patrol as part of Operation Caribbe. In recognition of its outstanding contribution to Canadian sovereignty, Corner Brook was awarded the Canadian Armed Forces Unit Commendation in 2008.
Rear-Admiral Robinson was appointed as the inaugural Commander Submarine Sea Training in 2011 and served in that role until 2014. He was delighted to be appointed as Commander of the Canadian Submarine Force and Commander 4th Maritime Operations Group in 2017 and relinquished the appointment two years later. Feeling fortunate to have had the opportunity to serve as the Commander Canadian Fleet Atlantic between 2021 and 2022, he was appointed Commander Maritime Forces Pacific & Joint Task Force Pacific in May 2022.
His ashore assignments have included the Joint Command and Staff Programme at the Canadian Forces College in Toronto, the Naval Command College at the United States Naval War College in Rhode Island, and serving three times on the Naval Staff, initially as the Submarine Requirements Section Head, next as the Director of Naval Requirements, and most recently as the Director General Naval Force Development.
Rear-Admiral Robinson is a graduate of the Royal Norwegian Navy’s Submarine Command Course, the United States Navy’s Submarine Command Course, and the Royal Australian Navy’s Submarine Executive Officer Course. He holds a Master of Business from the University of Ottawa, a Master of Defence Studies from the Royal Military College of Canada, a Bachelor of Commerce from Concordia University, and a Certificate in Fire Service Leadership from Dalhousie University.
[ Return To Top ]
Commander Canadian Fleet Pacific
Commodore D.E. Mazur, OMM, CD
A native of Kitchener Ontario, Cmdre Mazur enrolled in the Canadian Armed Forces on completion of High School, completing his Basic Officer Training in Chilliwack, BC in December 1988.
Following training ashore and at sea, Cmdre Mazur went on to specialize in Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW), in HMC Ships Skeena and Gatineau.
After instructing ashore, and fulfilling various sea going positions, Cmdre Mazur was posted to the West Coast to join HMCS Regina as the Operations Officer for a deployment to the Middle East. Successfully challenging his Command Board during this period, Cmdre Mazur was employed in the Pacific Coast Fleet Staff, before returning to sea in 2006 as the Executive Officer in HMCS Vancouver.
In 2007, he was promoted to Commander, and after a short period in MARPAC HQ, he was posted to Canberra Australia to attend the Australian Command and Staff College, where he also completed a Master of Maritime Studies from the University of Wollongong. Upon graduation, he and his family were posted to Ottawa where he served as the Senior Staff Officer Maritime in the Canadian Special Forces Command (CANSOFCOM) Headquarters.
Cmdre Mazur returned to the Navy fold in January 2012 and assumed Command of HMCS Vancouver. After a short but intense 18 months of sailing, he relinquished Command of the ship and assumed Command of Sea Training Pacific. In May 2015, Cmdre Mazur assumed the duties of N3/J3 in MARPAC/JTF(P). In September 2016, Cmdre Mazur was posted to Ottawa as the Director Strategic Plans within the Strategic Joint Staff. In 2018, Cmdre Mazur was posted to Halifax, where he spent the next two years as the commander of Canada’s largest Base.
Most recently, Cmdre Mazur graduated the year-long National Security Programme designed to prepare selected military, public service, international and private-sector leaders for future leadership responsibilities.
Promoted on completion of the NSP course in June 2021, and supported by his wife and two sons, Commodore Mazur will assume Command of Canada’s Pacific Fleet based in Esquimalt.
[ Return To Top ]
CFB Esquimalt Base Commander
Captain (Navy) J. Jeffrey Hutchinson, MSM, CD
The Commander, Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt is the institutional head of the Pacific Naval Base in Esquimalt, British Columbia.
Captain(N) Jon Jeffrey (Jeff) Hutchinson, a native of Middle Musquodoboit, Nova Scotia, joined the Canadian Armed Forces in June 1991 and immediately underwent Basic Officer Training in Chilliwack, BC. He thereafter completed two years at Royal Roads Military College in Victoria, BC and finished his undergraduate education at the Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston, ON in 1995, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in History.
After completing basic naval officer training at NOTC VENTURE, Captain(N) Hutchinson transferred to the east coast and earned his Bridge Watchkeeping Certificate in HMCS Montreal in 1997. Thereafter he received his Anti-Submarine Warfare Officer’s and then his Fleet Navigating Officer’s qualifications and served in both instances in HMCS Halifax. In 2000, Captain(N) Hutchinson went ashore to serve as a Squadron Commander at the Royal Military College of Canada. In 2003, he returned to HMCS Halifax to serve as Deck Officer. He received his Operations Room Officer’s qualification in 2006 and transferred to the west coast where he served first as Weapons and then Combat Officer in HMCS Vancouver and as Operations Officer for Sea Training Pacific. Captain(N) Hutchinson was appointed Executive Officer in HMCS Calgary from July 2011 to October 2012 and in HMCS Algonquin to June 2013. He was appointed Commanding Officer of HMCS Winnipeg in January 2016 and deployed in company with HMCS Ottawa to the Indo-Asia Pacific region in 2017 where the ship conducted exercises and operations with the USN, JMSDF, RAN, the Armada de Chile and ROKN, and PASSEXs with the navies of India and Sri Lanka.
He is a graduate of the Joint Command and Staff Program at the Canadian Forces College in Toronto, graduating in 2011 with a Masters in Defense Studies. Captain(N) Hutchinson completed his Senior Military Education as part of the Naval Command College at the United States Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island.
Captain(N) Hutchinson has worked in a staff capacity for the Director Defence Programme Coordination and most recently as Director Naval Strategic Management at National Defence Headquarters in Ottawa, ON.
He is married to his beautiful and talented wife, Jin. They reside together in Esquimalt, BC with their two daughters, Hayden and Scarlett.
[ Return To Top ]
RCN Command Chief
Chief Petty Officer First Class D.H. Steeves, CD
Chief Petty Officer 1st Class (CPO1) David Steeves enrolled in the Canadian Armed Forces March 28, 1989.
His first unit was HMCS Skeena in January 1990, where he sailed for two NATO deployments (’90, ‘92), and served until her decommissioning in November 1993.
In December 1993, he was posted to HMCS Nipigon, until she was paid off during the summer of 1998.
CPO1 David Steeves was posted to HMCS Athabaskan in 1998 where he again sailed for two NATO deployments (’99, ’00), including a tour in the Adriatic.
Promoted to Petty Officer 1st Class in 2001 and newly trade qualified QL6B, he served 11 months in CFNOS Acoustic Standards prior to being posted to HMCS Charlottetown. Following his tour at sea, he was posted to CFNOS Tactics and Team Training as IC Underwater Warfare. In April 2005, upon getting promoted to the rank of Chief Petty Officer Second Class, he served in Regional Joint Operations Centre Atlantic (RJOC (A)) prior to another tour at sea on board HMCS Iroquois (Gulf Deployment ’08).
His final position as a CPO2 was as Senior Staff Officer Underwater Warfare at MARLANT N-34/Operational Readiness.
CPO1 David Steeves was promoted to his current rank in April 2011. He attended the NCM Executive Professional Development Program for a year of academics at Royal Military College in Kingston, Ontario, before challenging the Executive Level French Course in Shearwater, Nova Scotia. He was appointed as Coxswain of HMCS Athabaskan in May 2013. In January, 2015 he was posted as Unit Chief in Trinity.
In April 2015, he was posted to AJAG (A) as the chief for the four Atlantic Provinces. On June 22 2017, CPO1 David Steeves became Base Chief Petty Officer of CFB Halifax.
On May 31, 2018, Chief Petty Officer Steeves assumed the duties as MARPAC Formation CPO1.
Finally, on May 22, 2019, he was posted to Ottawa as the Command Chief Petty Officer of the RCN.
CPO1 David Steeves is happily married to his spouse, who is a CPO2 Financial Services Admin. His two children are in school in Nova Scotia, while her son is in the Canadian Army awaiting training in New Brunswick. They both look forward to being close to family in the Maritimes where they can once again load up the camper trailer and chase local Blues Fests.
[ Return To Top ]
Formation Chief Petty Officer, Maritime Forces Pacific
Chief Petty Officer First Class Arvid Lee, MMM, CD
Chief Petty Officer First Class Arvid Lee was born and raised in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan and joined the Royal Canadian Navy in 1991. He has had an extremely rewarding and successful career in the Royal Canadian Navy as a Naval Combat Information Operator (NCIOP) and within his new occupation, CPO1/CWO Corps.
Starting in 1992, upon completion of his QL3 course, his first posting was to Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Restigouche for a small time prior to being posted to HMCS Yukon until decommissioning in 1993. A mariner at heart, most of his career has been at sea, conducting several operational deployments to the Persian Gulf, Arabian Sea, South-America, Atlantic and Indo-Asia Pacific. His missions included enforcing United Nation sanctions against Iraq, counter-terrorism operations in the Persian Gulf region, two deployments to South America to operate with the Chilean, Peruvian and Ecuadorian navies, participated in piracy disruption patrols in the Arabian Sea and Operation Projection and Operation Neon in 2018 where he participated in exercises with allied nations and United Nation sanctions against North Korea.
One of his most memorable highlights in his career include being a member of the commissioning crew of HMCS Calgary, circumnavigating the globe and taking HMCS Calgary on the first deployment overseas as a young Leading Seaman in 1995. He finally had the honour of returning to HMCS Calgary between 2017 and 2019 serving as the Coxswain.
CPO1 Lee has occupied positions ashore, including Senior Instructor at Canadian Forces Fleet School Esquimalt (CFFS(E)), a French Language student in 2013 at the Language Training Division (LTD), Personnel Coordination Center (Pacific) (PCC(P)), Honours and Recognition Coordinator for Maritime Forces Pacific and Joint Task Force Pacific (MARPAC/JTF(P)).
Away from the military, CPO1 Lee is extremely active within his community participating in local events within their community. Between 1995 and 2000, CPO1 Lee saw the need and seized the opportunity to provide sports for children within the local military community. Starting a Little League Sports program and coordinating his efforts with several outside agencies, he was able to provide Soccer, Softball and T-Ball for the military families within the western communities of Victoria. Since 2006 he volunteers as a Foster Parent and Respite provider where he and his family open their home to help families whose children and adults have developmental disabilities.
In 2018 CPO1 Lee was invested into the Order of Military Merit. He assumed his current role as Fleet CPO in April 2021. The success of CPO1 Lee’s career could not have been possible without the support of his wife Lisa and their three children Alexandria, Kaleb and Meghan where they all currently reside in Langford, BC.
[ Return To Top ]
CFB Esquimalt Base Chief Petty Officer
CPO1 A.H. Darragh, CD
CPO1 Alden ‘Al’ Darragh grew up in Calgary, Alberta and joined the Royal Canadian Navy in June 1988, as a Marine Engineering Mechanic. On completion of Basic Training in Cornwallis, NS, he was posted to the Marine Engineering Technician Training Plan (METTP) in Cornwall, Ont., to complete a Diploma in Marine Engineering. During his training he sailed on his first ship HMCS Fraser and completed his AMOC. He then completed the TQ5 portion of the course in Halifax and was posted to the west coast.
CPO1 Darragh spend time on steamers completing a Certificate 2A serving on both HMCS Kootenay and Restigouche. He then switched over to the IRO Class destroyers including; HMCS Huron (x2), Athabaskan and Algonquin (x2) completing a Cert 2D, 3D and Cert 4. He served as the Chief Engine Room Artificer (CERA) onboard HMCS Algonquin 2007-2010. During his time at sea he completed several named operations and university courses transforming his love of Canadian history into a Baccalaureate of Arts. The time between sea postings was spent at Canadian Forces Fleet School Esquimalt – MSE Div (x2) and Fleet Maintenance Facility Cape Breton (x2).
In 2012 CPO1 Darragh was promoted to his current rank and posted to DNR 7 in Ottawa, working on the requirements team for the Canadian Surface Combatant. Returning to Victoria from Ottawa for second language training in 2015. On completion he was appointed as Coxswain of HMCS Ottawa. A very challenging tour as Coxswain ended with a deployment to Indo-Asia Pacific. He was posted to his current position as AJAG Pacific Regional CPO1 in 2017.
CPO1 Darragh lives in Langford, B.C. with his wife Tamara. He enjoys spending time with the family which continues to grow with addition of new grand-children.
[ Return To Top ]
|
