IEEE NCS AP-S/MTT-S Chapter

Naval Engineering and Communications Technology: Perspectives and Experiences of Officers of HMCS Winnipeg

Time: Thursday, February 29, 2024 at 11:30 am-1:00 pm MDT

Location: University of Alberta – DICE 8-207 (Pizza served)

Lt(N) Benjamin Burnell – Assistant Combat Systems Engineering Officer (Left)

Recruited in Toronto, Lt(N) Burnell joined the RCN in 2012 and attended Royal Military College attaining a Bachelor of Science in Computer Sciences. Upon graduation, he trained as a Combat Systems Engineering Officer and was posted to HMCS Ottawa as a Phase VI Engineer. After completing some local sailing, he was posted to the city of Ottawa, where he worked at the Director General Maritime Equipment Program Management (DGMEPM) where he worked on navigation systems projects. Following his time in Ottawa, he was posted to HMCS Winnipeg as the Assistant Combat Systems Engineering Officer where he has conducted local sailing in a force generation program. He is currently responsible to the Commanding Officer for a department of up to 50 personnel, along with the management of all navigation equipment, fire control equipment, sonar equipment, communications equipment and ammunition on board.

PO1 Chris Jenkins – Senior Naval Communicator (Right)

PO1 Jenkins was raised in Grand Falls Newfoundland and attended Memorial University. He joined the RCN in 2004 as a Naval Communicator. After completing his initial training, he sailed aboard HMCS Winnipeg for Op SEXTANT conducting counter piracy off the coast of Somalia. Following that, he was posted to the Canadian Leadership and Recruit School supporting recruit training. Upon return to the coast, he was posted to the Reserve Unit HMCS Malahat where he acted as the Information Systems Administrator. Around this time he closely worked with L3Harris Technologies for the implementation of future capabilities of Software Defined Radio systems within the RCN.  After his time at HMCS Malahat, he worked at the Naval Tactical Operations Group in a support role before being posted to HMCS Winnipeg again as the Senior Naval Communicator (SNC.) As SNC he was responsible for up to 17 sailors on board the ship while advising Command on all aspects of Communications and Information systems on board. PO1 Jenkins has been recently posted to Canadian Fleet Pacific where he is now fulfilling the role of Information Warfare Senior Naval Communicator.

Abstract

Ever wonder about the development, operation, and maintenance of the extensive combat and communication suites aboard a Canadian Patrol Frigate? Lt(N) Burnell and PO1 Jenkins are two active service members of the RCN who will discuss their roles onboard a warship, the technical aspects of RCN radars and communications equipment, and their application of radar theory within a naval context.

Update

Thanks to Lt(N) Burnell and PO1 Jenkins, PDF copies of their presentations are available below: