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In this episode I have the honor to speak with Major Brent Handy, of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF).
Maj. Handy is fighter pilot and instructor pilot, and he is currently the Boss of 431 Air Demonstration Squadron, which is better known as the Snowbirds Air demonstration team.
The Snowbirds are truly ironic, and they are world renowned for the majestic 9 aircraft formation and aerobatic routines that they perform all over North America.
The team is tasked with representing the Royal Canadian Air Force, and in fact the entirety of the Canadian Armed Forces, and 2024 is an extra special year as this is the 100th Anniversary of the RCAF!
I'm thrilled that we have Maj. Handy as a guest to speak about service, flying fighter jets, and leading the Snowbirds team for 2024. You'll hear us discuss the CT-114 Tutor aircraft that the Snowbirds fly, modernizing that aircraft, and the hurdles the team faces. We also discuss the future of the team.
It's a great chat with a leader who is kind, pragmatic and sincere, so I hope you enjoy our conversation. I guarantee you will find it interesting and you'll learn a lot.
Our thanks to Maj. Handy for the time he spent with us.
Go Bold!
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It has been 10 years since Canada withdrew from Afghanistan, so to commemorate that milestone we invited senior leaders of the Canadian Armed Forces to reminisce on experiences and lessons learned from combat in Afghanistan.
In Episode 64 we had the privilege to speak with Major-General Mike St-Louis, and in Episode 65 with Lieutenant-Colonel Marc Kieley, both of whom are senior leaders in the Canadian Army. They were great conversations with wonderful perspectives, so I highly encourage you to listen to those discussions.
For this episode, I am very happy to welcome another great leader, and that is Colonel Chris Horner of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF).
Colonel Horner's experience in Afghanistan is from a different perspective from that of his Army colleagues because he was thousands of feet above the ground while on exchange with the United States Air Force (USAF), where he was serving as an Air Battle Manager on a E-3 Sentry Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft of the 965th Airborne Air Control Squadron.
It's a perspective one doesn't hear too often in the context of counter-insurgency operations in Afghanistan, but it is significant because what he and his colleagues did in the air had very real significance to those on the ground.
You'll find the Colonels reflections forthright, informative and at times emotional, and our conversation delved into dealing with adversity and leadership lessons that ensued.
We also discuss the recent Defence Policy Update which was released by the Government of Canada, which outlines plans to acquire an airborne early warning capability. It's a wonderful perspective on that capability.
I want to recognize that Colonel Horner is serving in the Royal Canadian Air Force, which this year is celebrating its 100th Anniversary, so if you haven't heard Episode 67, you'll definitely want to hear that as well because we had the privilege to speak with Lieutenant-General Eric Kenny, the Commander of the Royal Canadian Air Force. It was a great chat where we discussed all about the RCAF of today and the RCAF of the future! It's a great chat that you do not want to miss!
I'm very thankful to Colonel Horner for the time he spent with me, and for his candid reflections about serving during combat operations in Afghanistan.
Go Bold!
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This year marks the 25th Anniversary of Operation Allied Force, the NATO aerial bombing campaign against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia during the Kosovo War. The air strikes lasted from 24 March 1999 to 10 June 1999.
Joining for this episode is retired Lieutenant-Colonel Billie Flynn, who served in the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) for 23 years.
In 1984 Flynn was selected to be a pipeliner for the RCAF's new CF-18 Hornet fighter, and ultimately rose in the ranks to become the Commanding Officer of 441 Tactical Fighter Squadron.
During his time as Commanding Officer, Colonel Flynn also served as the Commander of Task Force Aviano, the unit of the Canadian Armed Forces that implemented Operation Echo in support of Operation Allied Force; it was there that he led the formation of the "Balkan Rats" and flew combat missions over Kosovo and the former Republic of Yugoslavia.
The Task Force Aviano combat unit received Battle Honours from Queen Elizabeth II, the first such distinction for a Canadian fighting unit since World War II.
Flynn's 40+ year flying experience includes fighter and test pilot service with the RCAF, the United States Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps and NASA. After retiring from the RCAF, Flynn flew as a civilian test pilot for the Eurofighter Typhoon, and later flew as a Senior Test Pilot for the F-35.
In this episode you will hear Colonel Flynn's first hand perspective about the RCAF's large fighter force (18 CF-18 jets) which conducted combat operations during Operation Allied Force. He describes the genesis of the "Balkan Rats" and how he and the RCAF fighter force executed on their taskings, and all told flew on 10% of all bombing missions.
Flynn also shares his memory of being in the Combined Air Operations Center during the rescue of Vega 31, the F-117 Nighthawk stealth fighter (actually an attack aircraft) that was shot down on 27 Match 1999.
It's a fascinating first-hand perspective on the RCAF's fighter force during Operation Allied Force. We publish this episode to commemorate and honor their service.
Go Bold!
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It's 1 April, and this day marks 100 years of the Royal Canadian Air Force! To mark this occasion, I am proud to welcome our guest, Lieutenant-General Eric Kenny, the Commander of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF).
I am honored that the General spent time to speak about his motivation to serve, and speak about the Royal Canadian Air Force, the Centennial celebrations, and the seismic modernization that the Force has embarked on.
In this episode you will hear about the challenges faced by the RCAF, the threat vectors as seen by the General, and you will get a detailed appreciation for the new fleets of aircraft and capabilities the RCAF will soon induct into service.
We chat about how the Air Force needs to adapt to ever-changing threat environment and how the Force needs to adopt long-range and precision guided stand-off munitions to counter threats on land and at sea.
You'll also hear the General's thoughts on the future of the RCAF beyond 2035.
This is a must-hear, fascinating and wide-ranging discussion from the Commanding General that leads the Royal Canadian Air Force.
Our thanks to Lieutenant-General Kenny for the time he spent with us. Happy 100th Anniversary to the RCAF!
Go Bold!
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Our podcast is unique in that we regularly feature senior military leaders from Allied Forces, and this episode continues that trend with our guest, retired U.S. Army Lieutenant-General Ben Hodges.
General Hodges is a graduate of the West Point Military Academy, and in recent years has been Senior Advisor to Human Rights First, and also serves as NATO Senior Mentor for Logistics. He previously held the Pershing Chair in Strategic Studies at the Center for European Policy Analysis.
I first met Lieutenant-General Hodges in Portugal when he was serving as the Commanding General for US Army Europe. He was kind to extend time to me then, and is continuing that kindness as a guest for this episode where we discuss service in the context of his time in uniform.
A notable part of our discussion focuses on the events from Camp Pennsylvania in Kuwait, the site of a fatal grenade attack which killed soldiers and left the General with shrapnel wounds.. You'll hear the General describe what happened that night and the chain of events which he said saved his life.
We then shift our focus to the war in Ukraine, which General Hodges is eminently qualified to comment on since much of his career was focused on Europe and NATO. We discuss Ukraine's efforts to fight off the Russian invasion, and how allies are postured to repel further Russian aggression with NATO's enhanced Forward Presence Battlegroups and Brigades. The General also shares his thoughts on land warfare as it is evolving from Ukraine, and things that allies could do to help in that effort.
It's a wonderful discussion with a globally recognized military expert, so we hope you find our discussion informative.
My thanks to Lieutenant-General Hodges for his time, insight and kindness.
Go Bold!
(Note: Our discussion took place on 18 March 2024)
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We are very happy to welcome another great leader, Lieutenant-Colonel Marc Kieley of the Canadian Army to share his reflections as we continue to mark the 10th Anniversary of Canada's withdrawal from Afghanistan.
Colonel Kieley joined the Army as a direct entry officer, and I can tell you that he is one of the most conscientious, intelligent and engaging Army leaders that I know, so I am thankful for the extended time that he shared.
You'll hear Colonel Kieley describe his experiences in Afghanistan with a theme characterized by friction.
The Colonel shares a spectrum of experiences ranging from the comical, like an EOD team blowing up their own weapon, to the serious where a suspected IED bomber who may have killed a Canadian soldier is captured.
I am very confident you will find the Colonel's reflections interesting and informative, and particularly insightful as we discuss the type of foundational lessons to retain from the counterinsurgency operation, and how that differs from the current need to focus on peer adversaries.
The Colonel also shares his perspective on the outcome of the counterinsurgency operations in Afghanistan, which I think is thoughtful and measured, and important to hear. You'll also hear the Colonel share one of his most important lessons in leadership and sending people into harms way.
This is a must hear episode, so we thank Lieutenant-Colonel Marc Kieley for the time he shared with us. We thank him and all his colleagues for their service.
Go Bold!
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For active or retired service members who are listening and feel that you need some help or support, please reference the following contact numbers, and please remember that there is no shame in asking for help as these resources are here for you.
In Canada: A confidential and free service available 24/7 to Veterans, former RCMP members, their family members, and caregivers. Call 1-800-268-7708.
In the US: For the Military Crisis Line / Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, dial 988 then press 1, or access online chat by texting 838255.
In the UK: Samaritans provides a 24/7 safe place to talk about anything that's bothering you. Tel: 116 123
Also in the UK, Combat Stress/Rethink offer a 24 hour freephone helpline if you have concerns about your mental health. The number to call is 0800 138 1619. They provide emotional support, a listening ear and signposting service.
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One of our goals at this podcast is to preserve the memory of Allied and Coalition forces, so this episode is particularly poignant as we mark the 10th Anniversary of Canada's withdrawal from Afghanistan (which occurred on 12 March).
For this episode I am honored to welcome back Major-General Michel-Henri St-Louis, a Canadian Army General who is currently serving as the Canadian Defence Attache to the United States, and a warfighter who served in Afghanistan.
Major-General St-Louis is an Infantry officer who holds 3 masters degrees focused on war studies, military history, and strategy and defence. He has deployed on 5 overseas missions including Bosnia, Croatia, Afghanistan, and the Middle East.
Notable highlights of the General's career include being the Commander of Operation Impact; Commander of the Canadian Army Doctrine and Training Center; Deputy Commanding General for Operations for the US Army's First Corps; and serving for an extended period as the acting Commander of the Canadian Army and Chief of the Army Staff.
Major-General St-Louis has attended the U.S. Capstone Leadership Program and is a graduate of the National War College in Washington, DC; and he is also an Officer within the Legion of Merit in the United States.
I have had the privilege to meet the General on numerous occasions over the years, and I know him to be a kind, professional and passionate leader who genuinely cares about the people and mission of the Canadian Army and the Canadian Armed Forces in which he serves.
Major-General St-Louis' first tour in Afghanistan was in February 2006 as part of the Strategic Advisory Team (SAT), which brought together a team of strategic advisors for Afghanistan.
His second deployment in Afghanistan was from November 2010 to July 2011, where he commanded the last Canadian battle group that conducted combat operations in the Panjwayi district of Kandahar Province.
The focus of this episode is to chat about the General's experiences in Afghanistan, reflect on this milestone anniversary, and chat about lessons learned.
We want to thank Major-General St-Louis for the time he extended to us and we thank him for his continued service to the country. We also thank and recognize all those that served in uniform in Afghanistan, and we pay respect to those who paid the ultimate sacrifice. You are not forgotten.
Similarly, we want to thank the Afghan people who sided with Coalition Forces in hope of a better life, and in particular those who fought side-by-side with Coalition Forces, and their families, many of whom live in fear today. You went Bold, and you should never be forgotten.
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Our guest is Commander Vince Pellerin, the Commanding Officer of HMCS Winnipeg, a Halifax-class surface combatant warship of the Royal Canadian Navy.
Our chat took place while on board HMCS Winnipeg, which at the time was acting as the command ship during the recent Exercise Trident Fury, the largest Canadian-led exercise hosted by Maritime Forces Pacific.
We discussed the exercise, but the bulk of our conversation focused on a new training model that the Royal Canadian Navy was exploring in order to expedite the professional development of its sailors. Part of that effort included a different crewing model on HMCS Winnipeg to facilitate its training mandate. That model could have implications for the future Canadian Surface Combatant warships.
We also had the opportunity to discuss digital transformation and what that means for the Navy today and into the future.
I want to thank Commander Pellerin for sharing his perspective on service, leadership, and topics in the naval domain.
Go Bold!
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Our guest is Royal Canadian Navy Lieutenant Steve Oxley, who is the Operations Officer on HMCS Winnipeg, making him third in command of that front line surface combatant warship.
Our discussion for this episode specifically focuses on a major incident that occurred aboard HMCS Protecteur (AOR 509), a replenishment oiler that was a part of the Royal Canadian Navy's Pacific Fleet. Protecteur's primary role was to deliver supplies (fuel, aviation fuel, dry goods, and ammunition) to deployed ships.
The incident was a major engine room fire which occurred on 27 February 2014, when Protecteur was 340 nautical miles northeast of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
LT Oxley was a Sub-Lieutenant on HMCS Protecteur at the time, and he kindly agreed to share his memories of that harrowing event.
There are some great perspectives in this episode -- you'll hear what happened, you'll hear about the emergency stations response, you'll hear about bravery, off-the-cuff ingenuity, leadership, allied support, and so much more.
Our discussion references some U.S. Navy ships that were dispatched to help HMCS Protectuer, and they are: USS Michael Murphy (DDG 112), USS Chosin (CG 65) and USNS Sioux (T-ATF 171).
The chat also makes reference to AFFF, which stands for Aqueous Film Forming Foam.
We are publishing this episode on the 10 year mark since the incident occurred.
Our thanks to LT Oxley for his kindness and time in sharing his memories so we can help preserve that history and acknowledge the bravery exhibited by everyone that was serving aboard the ship that day.
Go Bold!
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The Go Bold podcast features senior leaders of allied forces so we can bring personal insight to important topics and events, and preserve those voices for generations to come.
Today's episode continues on our objectives as we are honored to welcome Royal Canadian Air Force Colonel Jeremy Hansen to Go Bold!
Col. Hansen is a CF-18 Hornet fighter pilot, and he is one of only 4 active astronauts in the Canadian Space Agency.
In the years ahead you'll hear a lot about Astronaut Hansen because he has been selected to fly on the Artemis II mission, which will be the first crewed flight test of the Orion spacecraft which will launch atop the SLS rocket.
As part of the Artemis II crew, Jeremy Hansen will become the first Canadian to venture towards the Moon, and in doing so he will be the first non-American to leave low earth orbit.
There is a lot to Astronaut Hansen's path to space as one might expect, but in short, here are some highlights:
In 1988, at the age of 12, he joined the Air Cadets.
In 1999 he graduated with a bachelor's degree in honours space science from the Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston, Ontario.
He completed Fighter Pilot Training in 2003, after which he served as a CF-18 fighter pilot with 441 Tactical Fighter Squadron, and 409 Tactical Fighter Squadron.
In 2009 Colonel Hansen was one of two recruits selected by the Canadian Space Agency.
In 2011 he graduated from Astronaut Candidate Training and started working at NASAs Mission Control Center in Houston as CAPCOM — which is the voice between the ground and the International Space Station.
In 2017 Astronaut Hansen became the first Canadian to be entrusted with leading a NASA astronaut class, and that meant that he is in charge of training astronaut candidates from the United States and Canada.
And in 2023 he was assigned to the Artemis II mission.
This episode focuses on Astronaut Hansen's Air Force career, training for the Artemis II mission, and his perspective on flying to the Moon and being the first non-American to leave low earth orbit.
It's an awesome chat with a great Canadian, so I really hope you'll enjoy this discussion.
NOTE: We have also had the privilege to interview another Canadian fighter pilot and Astronaut, and Jeremy's colleague, and that is Josh Kutryk, who we featured in Episode 3 and Episode 22. They are wonderful chats which we highly recommend.
Our thanks to Astronaut Hansen for his time and kindness. We wish him and his crewmates a safe journey on their mission towards the Moon!
Go Bold!
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This episode is part of our Bleeding Edge series were we discuss new products, platforms, concepts, technologies and ground breaking events.
We are all aware of the dire geopolitical security events that are taking place around the world, including the War in Ukraine, and the Israel-Hamas conflict and the instability of that region.
Of particular note is the security situation in the Red Sea where naval vessels and commercial shipping have come under attack from ballistic missiles, and from Unmanned/Uncrewed Aerial Vehicles (UAV), which are also known as Unmanned/Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS) or drones. These events have disrupted global shipping and that has far reaching implications for us all.
The threat posed by drones is very real and it is a concern to navies and to ship operators around the world. Companies like Federal Fleet Services, which owns and operates the Combat Support Ship Asterix - and lease its capabilities to the Royal Canadian Navy - have recognized this growing problem and have invested their own money to research, select and integrate a counter-UAS, (counter-drone) system onto the Asterix.
After looking at various options, Federal Fleet Services selected the MARSS NiDAR counter-UAS system as the best solution available.
In this episode we visited the Combat Support Ship Asterix when it was in port at Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt, and we had the privilege to interview John Schmidt, the President and CEO of Federal Fleet Services who spoke about the selection of the MARSS NiDAR counter-UAS system which will protect Asterix; and we spoke with Ryan Walker, who is also from Federal Fleet Services, and he discussed the components, capabilities and the installation of the NiDAR system, and working with the Royal Canadian Navy to validate and implement new tactics, techniques and procedures for using the system.
This cutting edge counter-UAS technology is of critical importance for the threats faced by ships around the world, so it will be interesting to see how the system will do, and how its modularity will enable future enhancements if needed or desired.
It's a great chat about new technology and new capabilities that will extend the eyes and ears of the Asterix.
We want to thank Federal Fleet Services and the crew of the Combat Support Ship Asterix for their kindness and hospitality during our visit.
Go Bold!
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2024 is the 100th Anniversary of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), so happy 100th to the RCAF and our respect to all those who have served and are serving in the Air Force.
To mark this milestone year, we plan to publish a number of episodes featuring the men and women who are serving in the RCAF, and as we do here at Go Bold, that means we will be speaking with senior leaders in the Air Force including the Commander of the Royal Canadian Air Force, so we encourage you to keep an ear out for those episodes.
Central to the efforts to celebrate their 100th Anniversary are the men and women that make up the CF-18 Demonstration Team, which travels across Canada and further abroad to demonstrate the capabilities of Canada's fighter force.
Our guest for this episode is Royal Canadian Air Force fighter pilot, and the pilot for the 2024 CF-18 Demo Team, Capt. Caleb "Tango" Robert.
Capt. Robert is a combat qualified element lead on the CF-18 Hornet, and is assigned to 425 Tactical Fighter Squadron, the "Alouettes" which is based at 3 Wing in Bagotville, Quebec.
In this episode you'll hear about Tango's motivation to serve, flying the CF-18 Hornet, and his operational history. You'll also hear details about this year's CF-18 Demo Team, the jet he'll fly, and Tango's focus for the air show season ahead.
It's a great chat with a frontline warfighter of the Royal Canadian Air Force.
Go Bold!
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On 27 December 2023, a Twin Otter aircraft operated by Air Tindi crashed in Canada's high North, approximately 300 km Northeast of Yellowknife, Northwest Territories.
10 people were onboard, with some suffering injuries. It was night time, and there was blizzard conditions.
This episode is a first-hand account of the Search and Rescue (SAR) response to this incident by the Canadian Armed Forces, and specifically the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) and its 435 "Chinthe" Transport and Rescue Squadron which is based at 17 Wing in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Search and Rescue at 435 Squadron is a 24 hour-a-day, seven day-a-week responsibility. The Squadron operates the venerable CC-130 Hercules aircraft, some of which are permanently equipped and dedicated for search and rescue missions. During working hours on weekdays, the search and rescue standby aircraft and crew are ready to respond within 30 minutes of being notified. At all other times, the response time is extended to two hours.
435 Transport and Rescue (T&R) Squadron; and 424 T&R Squadron at 8 Wing in Trenton, Ontario, provide primary search and rescue response for the Trenton Search and Rescue Region, the largest in Canada, which extends from Quebec City to the British Columbia/Alberta border, and from the Canada/United States border to the North Pole.
In this episode you will hear a first-hand account of the SAR response from 435 Squadron members Capt. Jason Shaw, who was the aircraft commander, and Sergeant Vincent C. Benoit, who was the senior Search and Rescue Technician (SARTech) on the mission. They are 2 of 8 RCAF members who flew on this rescue mission.
You'll hear about the C-130 in its SAR role, you'll hear the distances the crew had to fly, you'll learn about the challenging conditions they encountered, you'll hear about parachuting from the aircraft in blizzard conditions, and you'll hear about the care they gave to the occupants of the aircraft that crashed.
Our tag-line at Go Bold is Talking to Real Life Heroes, and this episode is exactly that.
Our guests, and the rest of their crew, the men and women at the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre, the men and women than maintain and support the RCAF aircraft, and the rescue team from the Diavik Diamond Mine are all heroes. We honor them with this episode which preserves their actions for others to hear and remember.
Thank you to my guests, and thank you for serving and helping those in need!
Go Bold!
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Our focus for this episode is Exercise Cutlass Fury, a biennial Canadian Navy-led multi-national exercise that provides an opportunity for allied forces to train in a joint maritime environment. This training includes anti-submarine warfare, air defence, and surface warfare to name a few.
Joining for this episode is Commodore Trevor MacLean of the Royal Canadian Navy. Commodore MacLean is the Commander of Canadian Fleet Atlantic, and he was the senior officer at sea leading Exercise Cutlass Fury 23.
The principle focus of Exercise Cutlass Fury is anti-submarine warfare (ASW) but it's certainly not limited to that alone. Also exercised is air and maritime integration, and interoperability between Allies and joint elements.
The exercise happened in September, and there were approximately 1,400 participating sailors, soldiers, and aviators from the armed forces of Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, and France.
Eight ships from the Royal Canadian Navy and US Navy took part this year. Canadian ships included HMCS Charlottetown, HMCS Fredericton, HMCS Max Bernays, HMCS Glace Bay, HMCS Moncton, and for a short time the Victoria class submarine HMCS Windsor. US Navy ships comprised the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Porter (DDG 78) and USS James E. Williams (DDG 95), and a US Navy Virginia class attack submarine. Also participating was the support ship USNS William McLean.
In addition, multiple classes and types of aircraft participated, including the CP-140 Aurora and CH-148 Cyclone from Canada, the P-8 Poseidon from the UK, the P-3 Orion from Germany, and the Atlantique 2 maritime patrol aircraft from France.
There was a lot to the exercise, but some key things to listen for include the opportunity for the Royal Canadian Navy to use one of its new Arctic and Offshore Patrol Vessel's as a target launching platform; using the Royal Canadian Navy's Distributed Mission Operations Center (DMOC) in the exercise; and exercising Link 11 and Link 16 connectivity.
You'll also hear about the Royal Canadian Navy's need to modernize its Halifax class so it stays relevant into the future, and you'll hear about the distributed training that's planned for the future.
It's a great chat with a lot of insight, so we thank Commodore MacLean for his time, and we hope you'll enjoy this episode of Go Bold!
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This episode focuses on the the Royal Canadian Air Force's (RCAF) first ever participation in Exercise Cobra Warrior, a Royal Air Force (RAF) led Large Force Employment exercise.
Cobra Warrior is hosted by the UK's Air & Space Warfare Centre which is located at RAF Waddington.
The Exercise is held twice a year, and it takes place across the UK and over multiple domains including air, sea, land, space and cyber.
We published a detailed overview of Exercise Cobra Warrior in Go Bold #48, so we encourage you to listen to that episode as a compendium to this episode where we are focused on Exercise Cobra Warrior 23-2.
This iteration of Cobra Warrior involved more than 50 aircraft from 6 allied countries including: Canada, USA, Italy, Norway, Australia and the UK, along with a NATO E-3A Airborne Warning & Control System (AWACS) which managed large areas of battlespace and provide surveillance and communications. These aircraft worked together to support a fictional country in conflict to regain sovereign territory.
According to a senior officer at the Air & Space Warfare Centre, the intent of Exercise Cobra Warrior was to bring allied forces together in order to enhance the ability to work collaboratively on demanding missions and in dynamic threat environments.
Cobra Warrior 23-2 was the first time the exercise conducted operations at night, so that added an entirely new aspect to the operations.
For its first ever participation at Cobra Warrior, the Royal Canadian Air Force dispatched an Air Task Force which included CF-18 Hornet fighter jets and the CC-150 Polaris air refueling tanker. RCAF C-17 strategic airlift aircraft also supported the deployment into Europe.
Numerous other types of aircraft participated during the exercise, including the RAF’s F-35B Lightning which took part from the aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth. Also participating were RAF Typhoon fighter jets; F-35s from the United States and Norway, F-16s, Voyager MRTT air refueling tankers, HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopters and many more.
Our guest to speak about the Royal Canadian Air Force's participation is Lieutenant-Colonel Tom Lawrence, the Commanding Officer of 433 Tactical Fighter Squadron, and the Commander of the Air Task Force for Canada's participation in Cobra Warrior 23-2.
We have a great discussion where we speak about leadership, fighter pilot training, the CF-18 Hornet, and combat operations, and then we dive into the happenings of Exercise Cobra Warrior 23-2.
It's an awesome chat with a ton of great information, so we hope you'll enjoy this conversation.
Our thanks to LtCol Lawrence for his time and insight.
Go Bold!
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Our guest for this episode is Rear-Admiral Brian Santarpia of the Royal Canadian Navy, who at the time of our chat was Commander of Maritime Forces Atlantic, Commander of Joint Task Force Atlantic, and he was also the Maritime Component Commander who advises the Commander of Canadian Joint Operations Command (CJOC).
In addition to being a graduate of the National Security Program, RAdm Santarpia holds a Bachelor of Commerce from Royal Roads Military College Victoria, and a Masters of Defence Studies from Royal Military College of Canada Kingston.
RAdm Santarpia was promoted to Commodore in July 2013 and appointed Director General Naval Personnel. He led the transformation of that organization and assumed the duties of the first Director General Navy Strategic Readiness in April 2014. From December 2014 until April 2015 he was deployed to Bahrain where he commanded Combined Task Force 150, a multi-national group of ships and aircraft conducting counter-terrorism operations. Upon his return to Canada, he was appointed to Chief of Staff to the Vice Chief of Defence Staff and later appointed Director General Plans at the Strategic Joint Staff in July 2016. In May 2018, he joined the Canadian Joint Operations Command as the Chief of Staff.
RAdm Santarpia was appointed as Commander Maritime Forces Atlantic in June 2020. His position as Maritime Component Commander makes him one of the most informed Naval Officers in the Royal Canadian Navy -- this position enables him to have acute insight into the maritime security picture of the day.
Our discussion spans a number of topics from service and leadership, to naval warfare and naval platforms like submarines, the future of the Maritime Coastal Defence Vessel capability, and the future Canadian Surface Combatant. We also talk about important capabilities like Cooperative Engagement Capability.
Our chat took place shortly before RAdm Santarpia's retirement, and it predates the Israel/Hamas war in Gaza.
It's a wide ranging chat with great insight, so we really hope you enjoy this episode.
Our thanks to Rear-Admiral Santarpia for his time and kindness, and we thank him for his service to Canada.
Go Bold!
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We here at Go Bold pride ourselves on bringing senior leaders to you, and we also pride ourselves on preserving history, which is what the last two episodes and this episode does to a tee!
In our last 2 episodes, we had the pleasure to visit with Commander Corey Gleason of the Royal Canadian Navy, who at the time was the Commanding Officer of HMCS Harry DeWolf (AOPV 430), Canada's first Arctic and Offshore Patrol Vessel, and the namesake of the class.
Our previous chats were from Commander Gleason's quarters aboard HMCS Harry DeWolf when it was at Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt in British Columbia. That marked the half-way point of HMCS Harry DeWolf's historic first operational deployment in 2021 which circumnavigated North America in a counter clockwise direction.
The first half of the circumnavigation started in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and then went up and into the Northwest Passage, and then around Alaska before heading south to Victoria.
I encourage you to take the time to listen to the last two episodes to get an appreciation for the ship and its crew and everything they did up to that point -- it's all from Commander Gleason's first hand perspective -- so if you are interested in the capabilities of Canada's new Arctic and Offshore Patrol Vessels, these episodes are a must listen!!
The story didn't end in Victoria though, because there's a lot more to cover for the rest of the deployment!
For this episode we are privileged to have Commander Gleason rejoin us, and this time from Halifax. Our chat happened soon after HMCS Harry DeWolf returned from its deployment, and I dare say that collectively, these 3 episodes comprise some of the most detailed accounts of the deployment that you will ever hear!
My sound was a bit compromised, but Commander Gleason comes through clearly, and he's the one you want to hear anyway, so I really hope you'll enjoy this episode because you'll hear about leadership; the ship embarking a United States Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment (LE Det); operating new Multi-Role Rescue Boats; chasing down drug smugglers; what it's like to go through the Panama Canal; manning the ship and comparisons to other naval vessels; dodging storms; and so much more!
All of these are first-ever events for the Harry DeWolf class ships.
There's over 4 hours of content across these 3 episodes with Commander Gleason, and that's because we believe these firsts must be preserved. It really is an epic deployment, and we have the privilege to hear all about it from the first Commanding Officer himself!
I want to thank Commander Gleason for his time and kindness in sharing his perspective of the inaugural deployment of HMCS Harry DeWolf, and I also want to thank the crew for their hospitality when I was aboard the ship.
Go Bold!
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In our last episode of Go Bold we introduced you to Commander Corey Gleason of the Royal Canadian Navy.
We spoke with Commander Gleason when he was the Commanding Officer of HMCS Harry DeWolf (AOPV 430), the Royal Canadian Navy's first Arctic and Offshore Patrol Vessel.
We did the interview onboard the ship when it was in Victoria, British Columbia, which was one of the stops during its 2021 inaugural deployment to circumnavigate North America.
In this episode we continue our chat with Commander Gleason who shared his first-hand perspective of transiting the Northwest Passage, and technical aspects of operating a warship in the Arctic.
You'll learn about the capabilities of this new class of Navy offshore patrol ship, including the use of a towed array sonar to surveil the water column for underwater threats; and you'll hear Commander Gleason's personal and often emotional account of the cultural significance of the deployment.
You'll also hear about the importance of presence in the North and in the Arctic -- it is an area of growing interest to peers and competitors alike -- and all of this is straight from an expert in Arctic naval operations, our guest, Commander Corey Gleason.
Note that this episode gets us to a mid-point in the deployment to circumnavigate North America, so please look for our next episode where we hear about the rest of HMCS Harry DeWolf's epic and historic deployment.
Go Bold!
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We are really excited to bring this episode to you because it illustrates so much of what we try to do at Go Bold, and that is to inform, educate, commemorate and even entertain.
Part of that includes preserving history from those that make it, so you'll get all of that and so much more in the next few episodes which feature my guest, Commander Corey Gleason of the Royal Canadian Navy.
We were privileged to conduct this interview in 2021 when Commander Gleason was the Commanding Officer of HMCS Harry DeWolf, Canada's first Arctic and Offshore Patrol Vessel (AOPV).
Commander Gleason was the first Commanding Officer of the HMCS Harry DeWolf (AOPV 430), and we had our chat on board the ship and in the Captain's quarters after it arrived in Victoria, British Columbia, which was one of its many stops as part of its inaugural deployment which had the ship circumnavigate North America.
The first-of-class deployment of HMCS Harry DeWolf marked many notable events, and high among them was the first time in decades where a Royal Canadian Navy ship transited the Northwest Passage (from East to West). The last time was in 1954 with HMCS Labrador.
In this episode you'll hear about Commander Gleason's motivation to serve, some of his career highlights, and you'll hear about his leadership style.
You'll also hear about the genesis of the Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ship (AOPS) program in Canada, and aspects of the class that make it an impressive new addition to the Royal Canadian Navy.
We are publishing this episode today to mark the Grey Cup in Canada, and we are doing so because HMCS Harry DeWolf escorted the Grey Cup trophy from Toronto to Hamilton, Ontario, where the big game is being held.
I really hope you'll enjoy these next few episodes because you'll hear all about a new class of Navy ship and you'll hear about historic firsts -- you'll hear about ship design and capabilities, Arctic sovereignty, climate change, Indigenous engagement and collaboration, and so much more, and you'll hear it all from a highly respected, highly experienced and thoughtful leader, our guest, Commander Corey Gleason (who recently retired from the Royal Canadian Navy).
We thank Commander Gleason for his time and kindness to us, and we thank the men and women of HMCS Harry DeWolf for their hospitality during our visit aboard.
Please remember that this is Part 1 of a few episodes, so be sure to like and follow so you ca listen to get the full story about the ship and its historic inaugural deployment!
Go Bold!
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Our episode today is another first for us as this is the first time we are welcoming two guests in an episode, and I'm thrilled to share that both are senior leaders in their respective global defence organizations.
Our chat centres around the critical aspect of supporting the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, and we're specifically focusing on Canada's future fleet of F-35's, of which the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) will acquire 88 of the highly advanced 5th Generation stealth aircraft.
Buying aircraft is one thing, but supporting them is entirely different, so what you'll hear in our discussion is the importance of efficiently supporting the F-35, which requires sustainment in a whole new way, and you'll hear about it framed in the context of service to country, entrepreneurship, outright fortitude and lessons learned.
Joining for this episode is Jacques Comtois, who started his career in the Royal Canadian Air Force, where he served as a Commanding Officer, 3 Air Maintenance Squadron (3 AMS) in Bagotville, Québec.
Jacques is now Vice President of Arcfield Canada, a company that has been a trusted partner to the Canadian Armed Forces for more than 35 years in supplying in-service and integrated logistics support to the CF-18 fleet through its expertise in supply chain management, maintenance and repair, and engineering solutions.
Also joining is Rene de Koning, the CEO and owner of OneLogistics, a company that was specifically set up to support the European F-35 program to deal with European rules, regulations and complexities of the F-35 supply chain. OneLogistics is now Europe’s leading supply chain partner for sustainment of the F-35 fighter.
These gentlemen bring a wealth of experience from the military and from industry, and they are now combining Arcfield Canada’s expertise in supporting Canada's fighter fleet with OneLogistics’ unmatched experience as a Product Support Provider for the F-35.
It's a really interesting discussion so I want to thank both of my guests for their time and insight on their solution to support Canada's future fleet of F-35s, and perhaps more!
Go Bold!
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