The Royal Canadian Navy Today

It has been the practice of the club to induct the serving Commander of Maritme Forces Pacific as an honorary member.  Following the presentation of the Rotary Pin, membership and citation certificate, Rear Admiral Robinson will give a presentation on current operations of the Royal Canadian Navy. 

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.