7:00 pm
Join LCdr Owen Brine for a presentation on how Canada’s Naval Reserves are leveraging technology enhanced learning and training platforms to augment Regular Force capacity in domestic and expeditionary missions.
Figure 1 - LS Jonathon Gendron, Candidate for the Maritime Tactical Operations Course, begins searching HMCS Yellowknife during a boarding party exercise. Source: Royal Canadian Navy News
LCdr Owen Brine, Commanding Officer, HMCS Scotian, will discuss how the Naval Reserves are adapting and using technology to support the RCN fleet of today and tomorrow. Recent changes in the organizational structure of the RCN has identified the Naval Reserves as a strategic force generator which augments Regular Force capacity. Recent advances in technology enables officers and sailors from across all 24 Naval Reserve Divisions to receive high quality instruction to prepare them for operational deployments. LCdr Brine will discuss these enablers in addition to the challenges of training a modern fighting force capable of operating in today’s, and preparing for tomorrow’s, complex security environment.
Lieutenant Commander Owen Brine comes from a family that has a tradition of service to country. A native of Saint John, New Brunswick, he enrolled in the Canadian Forces in 1992.
LCdr Brine is presently a Commanding Officer of one of Canada’s largest Naval Reserve Divisions, HMCS Scotian – An appointment he assumed in June of 2015. Previously he served as Executive Officer, HMCS Scotian from 2014-2015.
In his civilian life, LCdr Brine is President of KOEBEL Consulting, where he specializes in aiding international clients build courses both online and in the classroom by leveraging simulators to meet their training objectives.
Prior to transferring to the Naval Reserves in 2012, LCdr Brine served 20 years as a Regular Force Naval officer. His last posting was as Project Director for the Halifax Class Modernization Program. In NDHQ from 2008-2012, his primary duty was working with defence industry providing expert operator knowledge in the design of the new Combat Management System.
A MARS officer, he has sailed in a number of Her Majesty’s Ships based out of Halifax. As a junior officer he underwent training in both HMCS Montreal and Iroquois where he participated in NATO deployments in Europe. As Navigating Officer, he sailed in Halifax during her vanguard deployment to the Middle East in response to the events of 9/11 as part of Operation Apollo. Following this deployment, he also served as Navigating Officer in Charlottetown and St. John’s conducting domestic operations.
Having completed his Operations Room Officer course in 2006, he was subsequently assigned to HMCS Toronto. During his time as Combat Officer, HMCS Toronto ramped up to high readiness and deployed on OP SIRIUS and OP SEXTANT. This unique mission included a circumnavigation of the African continent, presence operations in the Gulf of Guinea, the Horn of Africa region, and participation in Operation Active Endeavour in the Eastern Mediterranean. For their accomplishments in boarding operations and for their successful participation in a multi-national search and rescue mission in the Red Sea, the crew of HMCS Toronto was awarded the CF Unit award.
LCdr Brine holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Military History obtained from the Royal Military College that he obtained in 1997, is a graduate of the Joint Command Staff Program at the Canadian Forces College in Toronto, and in 2012 completed a Masters of Public Administration (Security and Defence) at the Royal Military College.
For additional information:
Richard MacMichael
902-424-8897
macmicrs@gov.ns.ca