• As Officer of the Watch (surface and dived), responsible for the overall safety and security of the submarine including the safe conduct of navigation and tactical decision making on behalf of the Commanding Officer.• Responsible for departmental leadership and oversight, personnel management and development, as well as assuming administrative responsibility for 20 personnel.• Responsible for ensuring the regulatory enforcement of standard and emergency operating policies and procedures often while in high-stress environments.• Responsible for managing collective training requirements, certifications and inspections, and monitoring and enforcing departmental compliance.• Responsible for preparing and delivering thorough briefing notes, comprehensive operational plans, and conducting detailed briefings to large groups of team members, as well as senior personnel.• Responsible for initiating, planning, and executing submarine operations, exercises, and at-sea trial programs with internal and external government agencies, both domestically and internationally.• Acted as Executive Officer (second in command), responsible for the overall leadership, training, and financial management of HMCS Windsor’s Naval Combat Systems Engineering, Marine Systems Engineering, Operations, and Executive Departments with a total complement of 59 personnel.

Upon becoming a submarine Navigating Officer I quickly realized the importance of planning ahead and ensuring that every part of the planning process was afforded the same meticulous attention to detail. I have learned through my experience that taking the time to create a strong foundation of multiple options early in the planning process will save valuable time and energy if change is required later. Working hard ahead of time and always having other options ready proved to be invaluable to my already busy schedule.The following are highlights from my experience as a submarine Navigating Officer:• Conducted safe and effective navigation throughout multiple inland, coastal, and open-ocean submarine transits, and advised senior personnel on all navigational matters.• Utilized the Electronic Chart Precise Integrated Navigation System for Warships and Submarines (ECPINS-W Sub) suite to employ advanced navigation techniques and target motion analysis.• Instructed and evaluated all watch officers and petty officers to ensure that they were fully trained to utilize the ECPINS-W Sub suite when the submarine operated both surfaced and dived.• Liaised with external government agencies when coordinating submarine operations.• Meticulously created multiple courses of action for all at-sea periods to assist senior personnel in making accurate, timely decisions when operational priorities changed. • Provided leadership and human resource management to the members of HMCS Victoria's Operations Department.• Acted as Operations Officer, responsible for leading the project management, integration management and scope management of HMCS Victoria’s at-sea trials throughout a transition from standard to high operational readiness.

This was my first posting as a fully trained, fully employable submarine officer. HMCS Victoria was preparing to set-sail for RIMPAC 2012, the largest multi-national exercise in the world that takes place every two years and hosts over 40 countries. This year would include our submarine conducting a first-of-class torpedo firing 14 years in the making! I specifically asked to be posted to HMCS Victoria because of the experiences I would be afforded during this trip. I truly embraced my role as Sonar Officer, planning, briefing and executing over 30 specific exercises against ships, submarines and aircraft. I developed my understanding of submarine tactics and procedures, and was fortunate to gain the trust of the Commanding Officer early such that he allowed me to assume the role of Officer of the Watch (Dived) prior to completing the formal course. As Sonar Officer I carried out the following duties:• Served as the Watch Navigator, responsible to the Officer of the Watch for the safe navigation of the submarine and the conduct of target motion analysis using the Electronic Chart Precise Integrated Navigation System for Warships and Submarines (ECPINS-W Sub) suite.• Planed, coordinated, briefed, and executed multi-national exercises in order to increase the inter-operability of the Canadian Submarine Force with national and allied forces.• Ensured that limited financial resources were maximized and responsibly tracked during operations.• Liaised with Forward Logistic Services and ship chandlers to ensure that all logistical requirements with respect to re-supply, accommodations, pay, and travel were coordinated effectively.• Responsible for $100,000 budget used for emergency in-port purchases, as well as paying subsidiary allowance to crew members as required while deployed.• Provided leadership and human resource management to members of HMCS Victoria's Operations Department.

• Assisted the Operations Officer with implementing, coordinating and executing assigned tasks.• Maintained accurate records of submarine operations and exercises to be later used for scenario reconstruction and the improvement of current policies and procedures.• Coordinated the initial response to at-sea emergencies.• Became proficient with all functions and the use of the ECPINS-W Sub suite.

• Responsible for, on behalf of the Commanding Officer, the overall safety and security of a military ship and air detachment with a compliment of 250 crewmembers.• Conducted safe navigation through the utilization of ECPINS-W.• Assisted the Operations Team with all plans, briefings, and liaised with outside agencies in support of current and upcoming operations.• As Diving Officer, provided leadership to the 8 members of HMCS Winnipeg’s dive team, trained to carryout routine and emergency maintenance of underwater fittings and limpet mine disposal.