Commander Maritime Forces Pacific

Commander Maritime Forces Pacific

Rear-Admiral Roger Girouard is originally a native of Montréal, Québec.  He began his Naval service as a reserve boatswain at HMCS CARLETON in Ottawa, before joining the Regular Force as a MARS Officer Cadet in 1974.  As a Sub-Lieutenant, he was awarded his Bridge Watchkeeping Certificate whilst serving in HMCS MACKENZIE in 1976 and subsequently navigated the ex-minesweeper HMCS MIRAMICHI for a year prior to being assigned to HMCS OTTAWA as a bridge watchkeeper.

Upon completion of the Destroyer Navigation Officer course in 1978, he navigated OTTAWA and participated in a Standing Naval Force Atlantic deployment.  Soon after his promotion to Lieutenant(N), he navigated the training destroyer HMCS QU'APPELLE before being assigned to VENTURE, the Naval Officer Training Centre, to instruct in navigation.  He completed the Combat Control Officer Course in 1984, then served as Weapons Officer aboard HMCS ALGONQUIN.

In July of 1985 he was appointed as Commanding Officer of HMCS CHALEUR.  Promoted to Lieutenant-Commander in January 1986, he undertook command of HMCS MIRAMICHI.  Next, he served as Officer Commanding the Maritime Command Detachment in Argentia, Newfoundland, from July 1987 to August 1989, delving into the field of oceanographic research.

After a short period in Canadian Forces Fleet School Halifax, he was appointed as Executive Officer in HMCS ATHABASKAN in January 1990.  He served in that capacity until completion of the Gulf War in 1991, when he was promoted to Commander and given the opportunity to participate in the international Naval Command College.  Upon graduation in 1992, he was assigned to the Personnel Branch of Maritime Command Headquarters, where he served as Senior Staff Officer for Personnel, Plans and Policies.

In July 1994 he was appointed as Commanding Officer of HMCS IROQUOIS.  During his tenure, IROQUOIS completed her TRUMP project trials and transferred to full operational status in First Maritime Operations Group as flagship.  Promoted to Captain in June 1996, he was assigned as the Deputy Commander Naval Reserve at the Naval Reserve Headquarters at Pointe-à-Carcy in Québec City.  In August he was appointed the Assistant Chief of Staff , Plans and Operations, Maritime Forces Atlantic, Halifax.  During his tenure in Halifax he assisted in the coordination of the complex efforts of OP PERSISTENCE, the CF element of the SWISSAIR 111 salvage and recovery.  He also acted as the CF liaison to the families of the victims. 

He was appointed as the Commander Maritime Operations Group Four, in Esquimalt BC in July 1999 and deployed in rapid succession in September of that year to East Timor as the Canadian Joint Task Force Commander of OP Toucan, Canada’s contribution to the Australian-led ITERFET coalition.  Promoted to Commodore in June of 2001, he went on to study full-time at Royal Roads University, completing a MA. 

Rear-Admiral Girouard was appointed Director General Maritime Personnel and Readiness in December 2001 and in November 2002 he was appointed Special Advisor to the Chief of Maritime Staff.Rear-Admiral Girouard was deployed on OP APOLLO from January to June 2003.  He assumed command of Canadian Fleet Pacific 5 September 2003 and was promoted to Rear-Admiral in June 2005.  He was appointed Commander Maritime Forces Pacific on 25 July 2005.