CAPTAIN(N) COUTURIER J.P.G. , CD

COMMANDER

Branch Adviser - CAPTAIN(N)

Captain (Navy) Gilles Couturier graduated from l’École des Hautes Études Commerciales in Montréal in 1986 under the ROTP program, he joined the Canadian Forces on completion of university.

After completing his initial training at VENTURE, The Naval Officer Training Center in Esquimalt BC, Sub-Lieutenant Couturier joined his first ship, Her Majesty's Canadian Ship SKEENA, based in Halifax, as a bridge watchkeeping officer. His first deployment was off the coast of Haiti as part of OPERATION EXCURSION in January 1988.

As a junior naval officer, Lieutenant (Navy) Couturier attended the Above Water Warfare director course and the Shipborne Air Controller course. He deployed in SKEENA for two Standing Naval Force Atlantic deployments. Lt (N) Couturier came ashore in 1991 to be the Flag Lieutenant to the Commander Maritime Command in Halifax. Following the Operations Room Officer course in Halifax, he was promoted to Lieutenant-Commander and served as the Combat Officer of HMCS HURON from 1995 to 1997. He was a member of HURON during the ship transfer to the West Coast in July 1995. Following his tour at sea, he was posted to the Canadian Fleet Pacific staff where he first assumed the role of Weapons Officer and later Combat Officer for the Fleet. During his three years in the staff, Lieutenant-Commander Couturier had the opportunity to work closely with the US Navy, first as the coordinator for the first deployment of a Canadian frigate as part of a USN Battle Group; and then as the Operations Officer for USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN Battle Group for RIMPAC 2000.

After attending the Command and Staff Course at Canadian Forces College in Toronto in 2000, Lieutenant-Commander Couturier was appointed Executive Officer of NCMS VILLE DE QUÉBEC from July 2001 to July 2003. He was promoted to the rank of Commander in December 2002. Following his tour in VILLE DE QUÉBEC, he assumed the function of Executive Secretary to the Chief of Maritime Staff in Ottawa in July 2003. Commander Couturier commanded HMCS FREDERICTON from December 2005 to July 2007. In May 2006, the ship was deployed of the coast of Africa for OPERATION CHABANEL, an RCMP operation that resulted in the seizure of 22.5 tons of hash bound for the East Coast of Canada. Following his Command tour, he was appointed Executive Assistant to the Chief of the Defense Staff. He is a graduate of National Security Studies Program Ten. Promoted Captain (Navy) in June 2008, he is now the Commander of Maritime Operation Group Four in Victoria.

Captain (Navy) Couturier, now an older referee, still loves to play hockey as often as he can. He also tries to jog with the younger ones, achieving mitigated success.

USCG/SNA Forum    March 25, 2009 U.S. Coast Guard Academy   Leamy Hall