Presented By
Commander Maritime Forces Pacific & Joint Task Force Pacific
Vice President
Marine & Mission Systems, Babcock Canada
RCN, President, L.C. Bespoke Solutions
Project Manager, Canadian Patrol Submarine Project
Vice President Project Delivery, Seaspan Victoria Shipyards
RCN
Strategic Advisor, Babcock Canada
Vice President of Growth, Thales Canada
Director Submarine Program, Seaspan Victoria Shipyards
Director, Arctic Submarine Laboratory
Director In Service Submarine Programs, Serco
Editor in Chief, Vanguard
Director & Acting Head of Engineering & Technology, Babcock Canada
Senior Military Officer and Associate Centre Director for the Atlantic Research Centre, Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC)
Assistant Deputy Minister (Infrastructure and Environment), Department of National Defence
Director General Naval Force Development
USN, Arctic Submarine Laboratory
A/Director General, Engineering Services, Infrastructure and Environment, Department of
National Defence
Royal Canadian Navy
National Director, Contract Services at Defence Construction Canada
Director Naval Maritime Crown Projects – Submarines
(DNMCP-S)
Copyright ©2024 Vanguard Canada Media
Rear-Admiral Luc Cassivi CMM, CD, (Ret’d)
RCN, President, L.C. Bespoke Solutions
Luc was born and raised in the Gaspé Peninsula, Québec. His experience in the Royal Canadian Sea Cadets led him to join the Canadian Armed Forces in 1983. He attended CMR St-Jean and upon graduation, underwent naval training and performed various duties ashore and at sea in both the surface and submarine fleets. He completed his service at sea by commanding 3 submarines, the Submarine Sea Training Group, one frigate, and the Submarine Force before assuming senior appointments within the RCN and the CAF. He also had the pleasure to serve in Australia, the United-Kingdom, The Netherlands and the United States of America.
His appointments at the rank of Rear- Admiral were Commander, Military Personnel Generation and Canadian Defence Academy (2017-2020), CAF Senior Liaison Officer to Veteran Affairs Canada (2020-2022), and Director General Culture Change at CPCC (2021-2022).
Luc received a BSc in computer science from CMR St-Jean in 1988, a MBA from the Edinburgh Business School, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, Scotland in 2008, attended the Naval War College, Class of 2011, at Newport RI, USA, attended the Capstone program at National Defense University, Washington DC, USA in 2017, and attended the Harvard Kennedy School in 2018. He retired in September 2022.
After a period of rest, Luc became a Senior Advisor with Boston Consulting Group in January 2023. He is the President of L.C. Bespoke Solutions and serves as a director with The True Patriot Love Foundation, The Navy League of Canada and his Condo Corporation.
Rear-Admiral Chris Robinson
Commander Maritime Forces Pacific & Joint Task Force Pacific
Rear-Admiral Christopher Robinson grew up in Hudson Québec. He began his military career in the army reserves as a Combat Engineer and subsequently became a Naval Warfare Officer. In addition to commanding HMCS Corner Brook, he has commanded at the group, squadron, fleet, and formation levels. He was appointed Commander Maritime Forces Pacific & Joint Task Force Pacific in May 2022.
Assignments ashore have included the Joint Command & Staff Programme at the Canadian Forces College and the Naval Command College at the US Naval War College. He served three times in the Naval HQ, initially as the Submarine Requirements Section Head, then as Director
of Naval Requirements, and most recently as Director General Naval Force Development.
He is a graduate of the Norwegian Submarine Command Course (aka Perisher), the US Submarine Command Course, and the Australian 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, a Bachelor of Commerce from Concordia University, and a Certificate in Fire Service Leadership from Dalhousie University.
Commander Ashley Hunt
Project Manager, Canadian Patrol Submarine Project
Cdr Ashley Hunt joined the Canadian Armed Forces in 2003 and attended the University of Western Ontario where she earned her bachelor’s in engineering. Hunt joined the fleet in 2007 and volunteered for submarine service in 2009. In 2013 she became Canada’s first qualified female Submarine Officer and served as the engineering officer in HMCS Windsor. Hunt has held several roles within the submarine enterprise, sailing in, sustaining, and certifying the Victoria class. Ashley has earned her Master of Science in marine engineering from the University College of London, and a master in defence studies from the Royal Military College.
Rear-Admiral Chris Earl (Ret’d)
Vice President Project Delivery, Seaspan Victoria Shipyards
RAdm Chris Earl (Ret’d) is vice president, project delivery at Seaspan Victoria Shipyards.
During his last four years in uniform, Earl served as the chief engineer of the Royal Canadian Navy and was appointed as the Chief of Staff (material). During his tenure, Earl led the material group procurement and sustainment effort to support operations and the Government of Canada response during the COVID-19 pandemic and was recognized with a Vice Chief of Defence Staff commendation for his leadership in the execution of this critical activity. Chris joined Seaspan Shipyards in 2021. In July 2022, he assumed his current role. Earl is a graduate of the Royal Military College, holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, a master’s degree in Defence Studies and is a graduate of both the Canadian Forces College Joint Command and Staff and National Security Programs.
Commodore James Clarke (Ret’d)
Royal Canadian Navy
Cmdre James Clarke (Ret’d) spent nearly 35 years in the Royal Canadian Navy going underwater when he could and on the surface or ashore when he had to. Jamie’s seagoing highlights include commanding the submarines HMCS Victoria and Corner Brook, the Halifax-class frigate HMCS St. John’s, and Canada’s Submarine Force from 2013 - 2017. His final posting was as Deputy Director of Strategy, Policy and Plans at NORAD in Colorado Springs. Clarke is a graduate of the Canadian Forces College and the United States Naval War College. He also holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Western Ontario and master’s degrees from the University of New Brunswick and the Royal Military College of Canada.
Jake Jacobson
Strategic Advisor, Babcock Canada
With the Royal Canadian Navy until 1999, Jake served as a Combat Systems Engineer at sea and on the waterfront, as a Project Engineer specializing in Above Water Warfare, as the Head of Underwater Warfare, and as Project Manager for the $1.8B modernization of Canada’s air defence and command & control destroyers. He also served as naval representative to the United Kingdom and Ireland, and as the Commanding Officer of Canada’s Pacific Naval Dockyard.
Jake subsequently joined Lockheed Martin UK as the Deputy Commercial Director and Program Office Manager for the £2.7B Royal Navy’s Merlin Anti-Submarine Warfare Helicopter program, returning in 2002 to Lockheed Martin Canada to lead the Maritime Helicopter Program (MHP) capture consortium and serve as the Director of Advanced Programs. In 2004, Jake joined General Dynamics Canada to lead the Canadian industry consortium for the pursuit of the Joint Support Ship, and served there in a series of appointments as Director Naval Programs, Director Air & Naval Advanced Programs and Director Air & Naval Strategy.
Jake joined Canada’s Department of National Defence as Chief of Staff for the Materiel Group (now titled more appropriately as the Associate ADM), through the initial period of CF rebuild and the principal period of Canada’s combat operations in Afghanistan. During his five year tenure, he drove a much-needed increase of over 1,500 DND engineering and procurement professionals, led the Government’s rapid procurement of medium-lift helicopters and advanced unmanned air vehicles for the CF in Afghanistan, initiated the National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy, worked to improve and streamline procurement including the means to leverage procurement to the broader national economic agenda, and championed and oversaw the rapid growth, from $1.5B to $2.8B per year, in funding for National Procurement.
Jake joined Babcock Canada in 2014 to lead the Babcock Defence & Security Sector in Canada, and in 2015 expanded responsibilities to encompass Government Relations, Strategy & Business Development, Marketing & Communications, and Industrial Benefits for the Marine, Land, Aviation and Nuclear Sectors. He retired from his executive roles in 2020, and from the Board in 2024. Jake remains Head of the Strategic Advisory Board for Babcock Canada.
Anthony March
Vice President Marine & Mission Systems, Babcock Canada
Tony joined the Canadian Armed Forces in 1997. He volunteered for submarine service and served as the Marine Systems Engineering Officer in HMC submarines Victoria, Windsor and Corner Brook. Subsequently, Tony completed a variety of offshore postings in Halifax and was selected for post-graduate training in the United Kingdom. Posted to Ottawa, he held a variety of staff positions, culminating as the Deputy Director, Maritime Engineering Program Management (Submarines). Tony holds a bachelor of engineering (mechanical) from the Royal Military College of Canada, a master of business administration from Athabasca University, a master of defence studies from the Royal Military College of Canada, and a master of science in marine engineering from University College London. In 2024 Tony assumed his current role of vice president marine and mission systems.
Ian Krepps
Vice President of Growth, Thales Canada
Ian Krepps is the Vice President of Growth at Thales Canada Defence and Security. He has been with Thales for the last 14 years in various roles supporting DND programs. In addition, Ian served in the Canadian Army as a Signals Officer, and as such is well informed to discuss submarines. He shares a professional passion to foster the development and deployment of innovative solutions to address pressing operational challenges, irrespective of the domain or market.
Captain(N) Martin Drews (Ret'd),
Director Submarine Program, Seaspan Victoria Shipyards
Martin Drews is the Director, Submarine Program at Seaspan Victoria Shipyards, since April 2024 and a retired Capt(N) in the Royal Canadian Navy.
During his last five years in uniform, Capt(N) (Ret’d) Drews served as the Deputy Project Manager for the Canadian Surface Combatant Project, Commander Naval Personnel and Training, and the CO of the Fleet Maintenance Facility.
Following 35 years of service to Canada, Martin first worked for General Dynamics helping establish the Halifax Class Combat System In-Service Support Contract, and later joined Seaspan Shipyards in 2023 and assumed his current leadership in 2024.
Martin is a graduate of the Royal Military College, holds a Bachelor’s degree in Applied Science, Master’s degrees in Business Administration and Policy & Strategic Studies, and is a graduate of the Australian Joint Command and Staff Programme.
Howard Reese
Director, Arctic Submarine Laboratory
Howard served in the US Navy as a submarine officer for 31 years. He commanded USS Kamehameha (SSN 642) and Submarine Squadron 22. After retirement, as a US Navy Civilian, he deployed as Arctic Operation Specialist on 6 submarines deploying to the Arctic and conducted 8 ice covered Bering Strait transits and multiple surfacings through Arctic ice. As Director, Arctic Submarine Laboratory, he was responsible for all aspects of planning, coordination, safety and operations at Ice Camps 2000, 2022 and 2024. Supervised and approved Ice Camp site selection, Ice Camp build, submarine and research operations ensuring the team performed safely and efficiently.
Peter Karounos
Director In Service Submarine Programs, Serco
Peter Karounos is a senior leader and a Submarine Acquisition and In Service expert at Serco with over 40 years of government and industry experience. He is highly regarded for his strategic and program leadership on managing successfully complex defense programs. He brings dynamic and collaborative abilities to solve problems and consults in various defense areas such as submarine shipbuilding and industrial base, submarine systems and weapons, life cycle, logistics and sustainment support, and on international programs such as AUKUS. He has served as a senior advisor to the Secretary of Defense, the Vice President of the United States, and as a congressional staffer. Karounos holds a BS in Electrical Engineering, a MS in Management from George Washington University, and completed the Program Management Executive Program at Harvard Business School and the Defense Acquisition University Executive Program Manager’s course.
Serco has more than 40 years of experiences providing world-class engineering, acquisition, logistics, financial, program management, and executive-level strategic planning solutions, submarine industrial base expertise, and services to U.S. Navy Acquisition and In-Service Submarine Programs. Serco is the largest provider of professional services to the Virginia Class Nuclear-powered Submarine Program.
Terri Pavelic
Editor in Chief, Vanguard
Gordon Szczepski, P.Eng, PMP
Director & Acting Head of Engineering & Technology, Babcock Canada
Gord joined Babcock as a Senior Marine Systems Engineer in 2008. He held various marine engineering, submarine commissioning, and engineering governance roles before being promoted to Director and Acting Head of Engineering & Technology in January 2024. Prior to joining Babcock, Gord served more than 13 years as a naval technical officer in the Royal Canadian Navy onboard various surface ships and submarines.
Commander Ben Thomson
Senior Military Officer and Associate Centre Director for the Atlantic Research Centre, Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC)
Cdr J. Ben Thomson graduated from the Royal Military College of Canada (RMC) in 2001 with a Bachelor of Computer Hardware Engineering before returning to Halifax to complete his training as a Combat Systems Engineering Officer (CSEO). After completing tours with HMCS Charlottetown and HMCS Ville de Québec, he volunteered to serve on submarines.
During a break in submarine training, Ben served as a Liaison Officer in Kandahar Afghanistan from July 2006 – June 2007. Upon his return to Canada, he served as the CSEO with HMCS Corner Brook from March 2008 – November 2010. He then moved to the West Coast and continued to support the submarine service as both the Submarine Technical Officer (STO) and the Formation Technical Authority for Submarines until June 2015.
Ben attended graduate school at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where he graduated in 2017 with a Master of Science in Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering, as well as a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering. He returned to Canada to work in the National Capital Region as a member of the Director Maritime Equipment Program Management (Submarines) in a few roles to include the Submarine Platform Systems Manager and the Submarine Sustainment Manager. Returning to his hometown of Halifax, Ben was the Operations Manager at Fleet Maintenance Facility Cape Scott from November 2021 until August 2024. Ben most-recently joined Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC) as the Senior Military Officer and Associate Centre Director for the Atlantic Research Centre.
Peter Hammerschmidt
Assistant Deputy Minister (Infrastructure and Environment), Department of National Defence
Peter Hammerschmidt was appointed Assistant Deputy Minister (Infrastructure and Environment) in August 2024. Prior to assuming his current duties, Peter was Assistant Deputy Minister (Policy) at National Defence. During this time, he was instrumental in advancing several national defence and government priorities in the context of an increasingly strained and deteriorating international security environment. Peter led the development and launch of Canada’s NORAD modernization program as well as Canada’s defence policy, Our North, Strong and Free, securing additional funding and new capabilities for DND/CAF and laying out a new vision for the Defence Team. He also led the establishment and deepening of key bilateral and multilateral defence relationships, including in Europe, NATO and the Indo-Pacific.
Previously, Peter was Director General Policy Coordination at National Defence, Director General National Cyber Security at Public Safety and Executive Assistant to the Clerk of the Privy Council. He also held the following positions within the Government of Canada: Senior Director Planning and Information Management at the Treasury Board Secretariat, Director Cabinet Liaison at National Defence and First Secretary for Financial and Military Affairs at the Permanent Mission of Canada to the United Nations in New York.
Peter holds a Master’s degree from the University of Wales, Aberystwyth and a Bachelor’s degree from Queen’s University.
Commodore Jason Armstrong, MSM, CD
Director General Naval Force Development
As the son of a career soldier he grew up in various army and air force bases throughout Canada, but calls Sault Ste-Marie, Ontario his hometown. He joined the Canadian Armed Forces as a Maritime Surface Officer in 1989 and graduated from the Royal Military College of Canada (RMC) Kingston, with a Bachelor of Arts Honours History in 1993.
Commodore Armstrong, upon completion of Naval Warfare Officer training in 1994, joined the Pacific Fleet. Since then, he has served onboard HMC Ships on both coasts conducting a number of international deployments including NATO, WESTPLOY, Op AUGMENTATION, and Op ALTAIR. He has had the honour and privilege of commanding three of Her Majesty’s Canadian Ships during his command tour and deployed onboard HMCS Toronto as Commanding Officer for Op REASSURANCE in 2014-2015.
Cmdre Armstrong has served in staff positions at Maritime Pacific and Canadian Fleet Atlantic Headquarters. He has served in the National Capital Region in Naval Force Development and as the Chief of Staff for the Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy.
Cmdre Armstrong is a graduate of the Canadian Forces College Joint Command and Staff Program and the National Security Program. He holds a Master’s degree in Defence Studies (MDS) and a Master’s degree in Public Administration both from the Royal Military College of Canada (RMC) Kingston.
Cmdre Armstrong and his bride have raised two outstanding young adults who both excel in the world of academics and athletics. Cmdre Armstrong enjoys hockey and rugby (both sports he plays poorly, but with heart), cycling and coaching.
Commander Thomas Luna, (Ret'd),
USN, Arctic Submarine Laboratory
Commander Thomas D Luna, USN, (RET), is a graduate of the University of California, San Diego with a BA in Mathematics. At sea he served on three submarines, qualifying as a Submarine Warfare Officer on the USS WYOMING SSBN 742 (GOLD) in 2004, completing a tour as the Combat Systems Officer on USS ASHEVILLE SSN 758 in 2011, and completing a tour as the Executive Officer of USS SEAWOLF SSN 21 in 2016. He served as the Flag Aide to the Commander, SEVENTH Fleet, embarked on the USS BLUE RIDGE LCC 19, the only numbered fleet staff to be permanently embarked on a ship, in 2013-2014. His active duty sea experience includes five strategic deterrent patrols in the Atlantic, a Western Pacific deployment, a Southern Command deployment in the Eastern Pacific, four Western Pacific cruises with the USS BLUE RIDGE, a European Command deployment and a submerged Arctic transit and surfacing at the North Pole. Ashore, CDR Luna, completed his MMAS at the US Army Command and General Staff College in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. He served in the Undersea Warfare division of the Navy’s Operational Test and Evaluation Force in Norfolk, VA. As a part of UWDC, Arctic Submarine Laboratory, he serves as an Arctic operations specialist. ASL develops and maintains expertise in Arctic specific skills, knowledge, equipment, and procedures to enable the submarine force to safely and effectively operate in the unique Arctic Ocean environment. He completed Ice Exercise 2022, an interfleet-transfer in 2021 and 2023, and 11 through-ice surfacings, 4 at the North Pole, since joining ASL as a government service civilian in 2021.
Paul Schauerte
A/Director General, Engineering Services, Infrastructure and Environment, Department of National Defence
Paul Schauerte is currently the Acting Director General of Engineering Services within DND’s Infrastructure and Environment Sector. Paul has been the Senior Director of Construction Project Delivery within Infrastructure & Environment since 2021 and has been with DND for 9 years holding various executive roles within the Department. Paul has over 25 years’ experience with both the Canadian Armed Forces and the federal public service and has spent the last 20 years working in the federal Real Property domain with various departments and central agencies. Paul holds a Masters Degree in Urban-Economic Geography from Queen’s University.
Mélanie Pouliot
National Director, Contract Services at Defence Construction Canada
Mélanie began her career in the private sector as an engineer. She joined DCC in 2007 as a Contract Coordinator for the National Capital Region in Ottawa. In 2009, she was promoted to Team Leader, Contract Services where she led a team responsible for procurement plans for DND’s capital infrastructure program. Mélanie subsequently transferred to Head Office as Technical Specialist, Procurement where she was focussed in delivering public-private partnerships. She was promoted to National Director, Contract Services in 2017. Mélanie holds a bachelor’s degree in Applied Science, Chemical Engineering from the University of Ottawa.
Commander Martin Byrne
Director Naval Maritime Crown Projects – Submarines (DNMCP-S)
Commander Martin Byrne joined the Royal Canadian Navy in 1988. He has sailed in both submarines and surface combatants and has had a variety of postings in interesting shore positions including an exchange with the United States Navy as a Tactical Development Officer at the Surface Warfare Development Group in Norfolk Virginia, Deputy Director of the Canadian Forces Integrated Command Centre at CJOC HQ in Ottawa and three years as an Operational Requirements Manager for the Joint Battlespace Management Capability Project at ADM(IM). Cdr Byrne has been employed at the Directorate of Naval Requirements (DNR) since 2017 where he has been responsible for both under water warfare and submarine requirements. Cdr Byrne assumed the role of Project Director for the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project in 2021 and has recently been posted to the position of Director Naval Maritime Crown Projects – Submarines (DNMCP-S).
Commander Corey Gleason, MMM, MSC, CD (Ret'd)
Royal Canadian Navy
Hailing from Welland Ontario, Canada, Cdr (retired) Gleason enlisted the Royal Canadian Navy 8 August 1985. He trained as a Naval Signalman in Esquimalt BC and was posted to HMCS PROTECTEUR in Halifax N.S. While in Halifax he served in multiple ships, participated in many NATO exercises and was support staff to Standing Naval Force Atlantic.
In 1991 he was recruited to Maritime Forces Pacific to serve in the Training Squadron. While serving in Esquimalt B.C. he was crew to a series of classes of ships, highlighted by HMCS OTTAWA, where he deployed for OPERATION APOLLO in support of the war against terrorism as ship’s Senior Naval Communicator. Gleason was a Ship’s Team Diver and Boarding Party specialist, making a conscious effort to enhance the capabilities of the ships he served.
Gleason commissioned from the ranks in November 2003. On completion of formal Officer Training in College militaire royal de Saint-Jean & NOTC VENTURE, he served in every class of ship in service returning to HMCS PROTECTEUR as their Navigator and HMCS OTTAWA as their Combat Officer and Executive Officer.
Corey’s first Command was fittingly to HMCS YELLOWKNIFE. He proudly served as roving Ambassador to the City of Yellowknife and the peoples of the North-West Territories, visiting the City of Yellowknife multiple times.
As a naval warfare officer, Corey joined the fight against humanitarian and disaster relief, global terrorism, and the illegal distribution of narcotics in South and North America supporting Joint Interagency Task Force South, throughout their time in service.
Rudely interrupted twice by shore postings inland, Gleason generally remained on the wet list serving in Sea Training as Operations Officer and Executive Officer mentoring and leading newly trained and appointed officers in their new roles.
Deep selected for future Naval Arctic operations, he began his Arctic studies in 2008 where Corey served at sea with the Canadian Coast Guard and NATO Allies gaining important practical experience at sea. He gained academic understanding of ice navigation at the Marine Institute of Memorial University. With these years of Arctic experiences behind him, Corey commanded HMCS HARRY DEWOLF in the Arctic in dead of winter and was the first RCN Captain in more than 67 years to circumnavigate North America via the Northwest Passage and the Panama Canal.
Corey and his spouse France Chalifour of Quebec City, are tremendously proud to be part of naval history, following HMCS LABRADOR’s historic journey in 1954. Corey continued his work and studies in the Arctic domain, as a Commander appointment to Sea Training Patrol Vessel.