MARPAC Change of Command Ceremony

Rear-Admiral Angus Topshee, Incoming Commander of Maritime Forces Pacific / Joint Task Force (Pacific) (MARPAC/JTF (P)), assumes command from Vice-Admiral Bob Auchterlonie, Outgoing Commander, during the Change of Command ceremony for MARPAC/JTF (P) on May 14.

SLt Joshua Ehnisz
MARPAC PA
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The highest rank change of command for Maritime Forces Pacific took place on Friday, albeit a smaller affair then is the usual custom for such a prestigious occasion.

With many watching virtually, Vice-Admiral Bob Auchterlonie handed over command of Maritime Forces Pacific/Joint Task Force Pacific to Rear-Admiral Angus Topshee.

Overseeing the event virtually was Vice-Admiral Craig Baines from his Commander Royal Canadian Navy office in Ottawa.

VAdm Auchterlonie opened the ceremony by focusing on the challenges the Canadian Armed Forces are facing.

“In the midst of dynamic social and institutional change here in Canada and our armed forces, the trust and confidence in leadership has been shaken,” he said. “It all starts with respect, ensuring that we respect the dignity of our colleagues and our shipmates. As leaders, we are responsible and accountable to our shipmates for the environment they work in, and we must set the conditions for them to succeed and thrive. We talk all too often in a world where responsibility and accountability have become diffuse, sort of meaningless platitudes. We must bear responsibility for our institution at all costs.”

VAdm Baines also weighed in, congratulating the Admiral for his work over the past few years.

“Maritime Pacific command is one of the most unique and challenging formation commands in the Canadian Armed Forces,” he said, and then he went on to praise the leadership of Vice-Admiral Auchterlonie in generating countless ships for deployment and implementing positive change for the naval training system and the Naval Reserve force. In addition, he acknowledged VAdm Auchterlonie’s work managing the complex Submarine Force.

Vice Admiral Baines concluded by addressing Rear-Admiral Topshee.

“Angus, you are the right officer at the right time in the right place to bring meaningful change to our beloved Royal Canadian Navy…We cannot wait for change. The time is now, the moment is here.” 

Rear-Admiral Topshee thanked both officers for their kind words as he took command and remarked about the future.

“We are facing a climate crisis, a return to great power competition while emerging from a global pandemic. Trust in senior leadership is rightfully at the lowest it has been since the height of the Somalia scandal in the 1990s; we have a lot of work to do to earn that trust back.”

He summed up his vision moving forward in his new job.

“Let me give you a proactive vision of what we are trying to achieve. One that starts with our values for the military – that is to commit to duty, to serve Canada and Canadians. To put that service before ourselves, and be ready to help, ready to lead, and ready to fight while respecting the rights and dignity of every person. If you do not meet that test, you have no place in the Canadian Armed Forces.”

He ended the ceremony with a final thought.

“I am confident we are up to the challenge.”

With that, he took the watch and another great Navy Day was set into history.

VAdm Auchterlonie is moving to Ottawa for his next post as Commander of Canadian Joint Operations Command.

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