HMCS Winnipeg Change of Command

Reviewing Officer, Commodore Jeff Zwick (centre), signs the certificate officiating the command change between Outgoing Commanding Officer of HMCS Winnipeg, Commander Jon Hutchinson (left), and the Incoming Commanding Officer, Commander Michael Stefanson (right), during the Change of Command Ceremony at A Jetty, Aug. 23. Photo by LS David Gariepy

SLt Warren Bush, HMCS Winnipeg ~

On the morning of Aug. 23 Commander J.J. Hutchinson turned over command of HMCS Winnipeg to Commander Mike Stefanson, concluding a successful chapter in the ship’s history.

Recap of Cdr Hutchinson’s Command:
A native of Middle Musquodoboit, Nova Scotia, Cdr Hutchinson joined the Royal Canadian Navy in 1991 and has sailed extensively on both the east and west coasts.

He assumed command of HMCS Winnipeg from Cdr Pascal Belhumer on Jan. 16, 2016, while alongside Penang, Malaysia, during the vessel’s 2015 Operation Active Endeavour deployment.

Cdr Hutchinson took his new charge from Penang to Singapore, on the south tip of the Malayan Peninsula, and from there to Tokyo, and then back to Esquimalt via Pearl Harbor, arriving Feb. 22, 2016.

Cdr Hutchinson again took Winnipeg to sea on the heels of a mid-April namesake city visit, with May 2016 seeing him lead the ship through Ship Without Air Detachment training, Basic Single Ship Readiness Training, Replenishment At Sea (RAS) Force Generation, and the Fleet Navigating Officer course.

The ship’s company subsequently employed lessons learned during numerous exercises off of Southern California with the United States Navy and United States Coast Guard over September and October, a highlight of which was San Diego Fleet Week.

Winnipeg spent winter of 2016/17 preparing to sail for Poseidon Cutlass, a five-month voyage throughout the Indo-Pacific Region, designed as a demonstration of Canada’s commitment to regional stability and security through interoperable naval operations and diplomatic liaisons.

Cdr Hutchinson took the ship out of Esquimalt March 6, then across the Pacific Ocean via California, Pearl Harbor, Guam and the Philippines. The ship spent two weeks in Port Klang, Malaysia, and then sailed through the Straits of Malacca, into the Indian Ocean destined for its westernmost port of call, Mumbai, India. He then brought the crew back through the Straits of Malacca via Sri Lanka, Singapore, and Jeju and Busan, South Korea.

En route, he oversaw the successful completion of Exercise Pacific Guardian from June 7-21, a multinational endeavour between the Canadian, Japanese, and New Zealand Navies.

Cdr Hutchinson next brought Winnipeg into Kure and Tokyo, Japan, before sailing across the Pacific yet again, via Pearl Harbor. The ship engaged in RAS force generation with Almirante Montt, setting future ships and their crews up for success by training Canadian crewmen on board the Chilean tanker. Amidst great fanfare, Winnipeg finally returned to Esquimalt on Aug. 8.

The Change of Command:
A few weeks later, the ship’s company assembled on Winnipeg’s flight deck by divisions for the command change ceremony. Lt(N) Squires led the assembly through strong and thoughtful prayers. Lt(N) Henderson served as Master of Ceremonies, and introduced Commodore Zwick, Cdr Hutchinson, and Cdr Stefanson.

Cdr Hutchinson spoke to the ship’s company, and made clear his appreciation for serving as Winnipeg’s Commanding Officer – the pinnacle of a MARS Officer’s career. Employing quotes from Joseph Conrad and Admiral Nelson, Cdr Hutchinson humorously voiced his thoughts on captaincy, and offered some advice to Cdr Stefanson.

Commodore Zwick then thanked Cdr Hutchinson for his tenure as Winnipeg’s Commanding Officer, and praised Cdr Stefanson’s proven abilities to lead the ship and its company through its future trials and tribulations.

Afterwards, Cdr Stefanson introduced himself to the crew, and explained his philosophy – a trinity of leadership, mentorship, and most importantly, ownership.
The ship’s company then manned Winnipeg’s starboard side, and saw off Cdr Hutchinson, who was rowed ashore by his Heads of Department.

The change of command ceremony will be remembered as a resounding success, and Cdr Hutchinson can proudly boast a remarkable tenure as Winnipeg’s Commanding Officer.