Speakers' Evening: Monday 5 February, 2024
Our joint guest speakers for February are Cdr Sam Patchell and Cdr Meghan Coates who recently returned to Canada after leading their respective ships HMCS OTTAWA and HMCS VANCOUVER at the forefront of the Royal Canadian Navy's contribution to the Government of Canada's Indo-Pacific strategy. They will both share their experiences in the 'troubled waters' of the region.
Biographies
Cdr Meghan Coates
A native of St. Stephen, NB, Cdr Meghan Coates joined the Canadian Armed Forces, enrolling as a Naval Warfare Officer (NWO) under the Regular Officer Training Plan in the summer of 1999. She completed a four year undergraduate program at the Royal Military College (RMC) of Canada in Kingston, ON graduating in May 2003 with a degree in Business Administration.
On completion of RMC and NWO training, she joined the East Coast Fleet in Halifax NS. Her first ship was His Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Fredericton. In addition to participating in multiple task group exercises she had the pleasure of deploying to the Arctic for a sovereignty patrol and conducted a joint operation with the RCMP off the coast of Africa during OP CHABANEL. Once she returned from the coast of Africa, she completed the Above Water Warfare Officer (AWWO) course in 2006. Upon completion, she was quickly sent to Victoria, BC to assume her duties in HMC Ships Algonquin and Calgary. In Calgary she deployed to the Arabian Sea during OP ALTAIR, and participated in exercises in preparation for the Vancouver 2010 Olympics. On completion her tour in Calgary, Cdr Coates accompanied her husband to Newport, Rhode Island for one year. After returning from Newport in the summer of 2010 she returned to the city of Halifax as the Senior Staff Officer Above Water Warfare in headquarters. After completing her Operations Room Officer (ORO) course in 2012 she joined HMCS Fredericton once again, this time as an ORO. As an ORO she had the pleasure of sailing with HMC Ships Athabaskan, Ville de Quebec and Toronto. While in Toronto for a short time, she deployed on OP ARTEMIS and participated in maritime security and counter terrorism off the coast of Africa. She completed her east coast time as the Tactics Anti-Air Warfare Officer at the Canadian Forces Operations School in Halifax.
In 2016 she headed to Newport RI once again, this time to attend the Naval Staff College at the US Naval War College. On completion of her studies she moved to Ottawa, ON as a staff officer, followed by an executive assistant position both in Chief of Force Development. In July 2020, finally able to get back to the west coast, Cdr Coates moved to Victoria BC and was posted to HMCS Calgary as the Executive Officer where she was promoted to her current rank. In 2021 she deployed on Operation PROJECTION and ARTEMIS during the COVID pandemic where Calgary set the record for the number of maritime interdictions conducted by a single unit in Combined Maritime Forces history. Upon return from the 2021 deployment, Cdr Coates was posted to the Naval Fleet School (Pacific) to conduct language training. In June 2022 she was appointed Commanding Officer of HMCS Regina. Following Regina, she was appointed Commanding Officer of HMCS Vancouver in February 2023 and deployed in August 2023 on Operation PROJECTION and NEON to the Indo Pacific region. In December 2023 Cdr Coates was appointed to the Order of Military Merit. She continues to reside in Victoria, BC, with her husband Matthew and their two children, Nathaniel and Jackson.
Cdr Samuel Patchell
Born in North Vancouver, British Columbia, Cdr Sam Patchell and joined the Canadian Armed forces in 2001 after graduating from the University of Victoria. He completed his Naval Warfare Officer training at Venture and then joined his first ship, HMCS CHARLOTTETOWN, where he earned his bridge watchkeeping and NOPQ qualifications.
In 2006, he specialized as a Navigating Officer and was posted to HMCS ST. JOHN’S. He further specialized as a Deck Officer in 2008 and joined HMCS PRESERVER. During his tenure, he was attach posted to HMCS ATHABASKAN where he deployed for OP HESTIA, Canada’s humanitarian response to the 2010 earthquake in Haiti. Immediately upon his return he started the Operations Room Officer course and moved to Victoria after graduation. He joined HMCS VANCOUVER as the Operations Officer and deployed for OP MOBILE, Canada’s contribution to the 2011 military intervention in Libya.
He returned to Canada in 2012 and assumed Command of the Patrol Craft Training Unit. The following summer, he attended the United States Naval War College in Newport, RI. After graduation, he and his family moved to Ottawa and where he worked as a staff officer to the Chief of Defence Staff.
In 2015 he was appointed Executive Officer of HMCS CHARLOTTETOWN, returning to the same ship where he started his naval career. In 2016 the ship deployed to Europe, sailing to the Eastern Mediterranean and Black Sea for OP REASURANCE. In 2017 he continued to serve the Fleet as Sea Training Atlantic’s Executive Officer.
In 2018, he and his family moved to Pyeongtaek, South Korea, where he served as the Executive Assistant to the Deputy Commander, United Nations Command. He returned to Canada the following year where he assumed the duties as Fleet Chief of Staff, Current Operations. On the 24th of January, 2020, he assumed Command of HMCS OTTAWA.
Commander Sam Patchell and his wife Tara Barnett live in Victoria where they spend much of their time enjoying the outdoors paddleboarding, hiking and cycling around Vancouver Island.
