Command changes at the top

New Minister of National Defence

The Honourable Gordon O’Connor became minister of National Defence on Feb. 6 in Canada’s new Conservative government. First elected to the House of Commons in 2004 and re-elected in 2006, he served as Conservative Defence critic and was on the Standing Committee for National Defence and Veterans Affairs.

In one of his first major public speeches as Minister, he addressed the Conference of Defence Associations (CDA) in Ottawa Feb. 23. Building on the “Canada First” defence strategy, he said the new policy is quite simple: “It’s about having a three-ocean Navy, a robust Army and a revitalized Air Force.”

He pointed to his own 32 years in the CF, describing it as a “big family” which must be taken care of. “We need to support our troops when they are deployed, but we also need to be at their side after they have returned, and we need to support their families.”

The new minister began his career in the Army’s Armour branch. He was commissioned 2Lt from the Officer Candidate Program in 1963 and posted to the Royal Canadian Dragoons. He served with the RCD as a squadron commander in the rank of major. As LCol, he commanded the RCD in Germany following which he served at NDHQ, eventually as a BGen responsible for managing Army development programs.

After retiring, he went to the private sector, becoming vice president of both a large facility management firm and a vehicle testing centre. Prior to his election, Mr. O’Connor was a senior associate at Hill & Knowlton Canada.

He is married and has two children.

New Chief Maritime Staff

Vice Admiral Drew Robertson was officially installed as Chief of the Maritime Staff on Jan. 17. He replaces VAdm Bruce MacLean who is retiring after being the Navy’s top sailor since Aug. 2004.

Recently, VAdm Robertson commanded the Canadian task group during Op APOLLO, Canada’s contribution to the campaign against terrorism in the Gulf war. Before that, he served as a combat officer in HMCS Skeena, executive officer of HMCS Provider and commander of HMCS Annapolis and Athabaskan.

His naval career began in 1973, graduating from RMC in engineering physics as a sub-lieutenant.

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