The Admiral's blueprint

The Commander of the Canadian Navy on the Pacific coast Rear Admiral Roger Girouard will wrap up his days with the Canadian Navy over the next couple of weeks, already the change of command has taken place as Rear Admiral Tyrone Pile took over command last Friday in Victoria.

With just the paper work and retirement party left for Girouard he’s become a bit retrospective over his time in command on the West Coast, the Lookout Newspaper reviewed his career and reviewed some of the projects he’s left unfinished, including his hopes for a larger presence for the Canadian navy in Prince Rupert.

One file that has been handed off to Rear Admiral Pile, was Girouard’s hopes to have seen a reserve component set up on the North Coast. The Rear Admiral was following the development of the Fairview container port quite closely and would have liked to have been able to bring his plans to fruition a little quicker than the current pace seems to dictate.

From the Lookout, is this telling paragraph of what he had planned for Prince Rupert, a blue print that has now been passed on to his successor.

The other regret is not influencing a stronger appreciation by NDHQ on the issues ramping up in the Indo Pacific region. As trade increases across the Pacific — the new port in Prince Rupert is a testament to this — the potential for conflict and marine security issues are certain to follow.

.

If he had his way, the ground would be broken on a naval reserve unit in Prince Rupert, the West Coast would have another submarine at the ready to forward deploy to the western Pacific, there would be a mini operations centre manned by all the federal partners, the RCMP and Coast Guard in northern B.C., and frigates would be deployed around the Indian Ocean and South China Sea.

The article suggests that Prince Rupert may yet become a major component of the navy on the North coast, bringing more than the usual port visits that we have become accustomed to over the years.

You can read the full article below:

RAdm Girouard commands his own destiny
Melissa Atkinson

Managing Editor

July 30, 2007

At age 50, RAdm Roger Girouard is hanging up his uniform. After a distinguished 34-year naval career that has taken him around the world, he's now plotting a new journey.

The timbre of RAdm Roger Girouard’s voice is soft and resigned as he answers the question about leaving the navy after 34 years of faithful service.

“It has to happen sometime — sooner or later you have to leave. So, I decided to be the master of my own destiny, and pick the time and place instead of running out the clock,” he says.
Last Friday he made the final step toward retirement when he handed over command of Maritime Forces Pacific to RAdm Tyrone Pile.

In a few weeks, he’ll enjoy a Hawaiian-themed retirement bash on his final day of naval service.
“If all else fails,” he says of the future, “I’ll garden.”

It’s unlikely a man with such intellect, charisma and eloquence will stay knee deep in topsoil and flower petals beyond the summer. He hints about teaching, and the very prospect of giving people the benefit of his experience is enough to animate him.

Writing on matters naval is also on his “to do” list; he’s been known to string together a coherent sentence or two he jests.

From the first days at sea as a reservist to his final moments as a naval officer, his 34 years is a book overflowing with thousands of chapters, strung together to make one remarkable story.
Even before he wore the naval uniform, it seemed people knew his destiny before he did, writing in his high school yearbook: “Rog is off to the West Coast to run the navy. We’re sure he’ll do well.”

He did, although he never aspired to become an Admiral. “All I ever wanted was my next job,” he says.

He’s had more Commanding Officer and Executive Officer time than anyone really deserves, he says. There’s no one “best job” or “best day”, it’s all been an amazing trip. That journey is chronicled in the dozens of artifacts he’s collected from postings and deployments throughout the years. His most prized is a nut and bolt — a widget he calls it, taken from Camp Zumalai in East Timor during his command of Operation Toucan. He’s most proud of it because it was a hard sell, but once built by the East and West Coast Naval Construction Troops, it became home to the 200-strong reinforced infantry company group from 3rd Battalion, Royal 22e Régiment of Valcartier, Quebec — the land component of Canada’s contribution to the International Force in East Timor.

The silver hardware will find a place in his “I love me” room at his Sooke home, along with a Bofors gun shell and a large ball cap collection. “There’s a time and a place and a ship and a deployment, and there’s a story about people with each one of these caps.”

For the last two years, as head of military forces on the West Coast, he’s managed to put a tick in his three top “to do” boxes: grow the navy and the skill sets of sailors, further Pacific outreach by sending ships to the Far East, and stand up Joint Task Force (Pacific) with little impact to the average sailor.

However, there are two areas he wished he could see to completion.

“I’d of liked to have gotten Victoria out of the ditch and underway,” he says. Despite a great crew and incredibly talented ship repair unit, supply chain and contractual issues have held up the docking work period. Victoria won’t make it out of drydock until 2009.

“Once Victoria gets underway, she’ll be a tremendous asset to this coast,” says RAdm Girouard.
The other regret is not influencing a stronger appreciation by NDHQ on the issues ramping up in the Indo Pacific region. As trade increases across the Pacific — the new port in Prince Rupert is a testament to this — the potential for conflict and marine security issues are certain to follow. If he had his way, the ground would be broken on a naval reserve unit in Prince Rupert, the West Coast would have another submarine at the ready to forward deploy to the western Pacific, there would be a mini operations centre manned by all the federal partners, the RCMP and Coast Guard in northern B.C., and frigates would be deployed around the Indian Ocean and South China Sea.

These items he’ll pass to his successor, a man RAdm Girouard has much confidence in.
As the days close in on his retirement, the Admiral says the hardest part of all will not be giving up the parking spot, or the uniform or the cool mess kit. “It’s leaving people behind that I served with and for and done amazing things alongside of.”

To the defence team of Maritime Forces Pacific, RAdm Girouard says he’ll always remember how quietly confident they are, and how they take on tremendous responsibilities, from domestic emergencies to the international situation in Afghanistan. “Folks just get on with it with a level of professionalism that I’ve grown accustomed to. They’re a fine, classy bunch.”
While he takes no credit for the attributes of the work force he’s commanded, he certainly did fit in just fine.