The SAOC (Central) executive consists of both elected and appointed positions, each holding office for a term of at least one year. Click on the positions to see who has their hands firmly on the levers of power.
Want to get something off your chest or toss a few Bravo Zulus this way? Feel the need to fire a red grenade or transmit on active for a bit? The executive is always at periscope depth and ready to copy the broadcast. Fill out the form below and hit the submit button.
Bob joined submarines in 1979 and qualified in HMS ODIN in 1980. He must have said something that the Squadron Commander didn’t like, as his first posting in submarines was an exchange to the UK. This was followed closely by exchange to the RAN as Sonics in HMAS OXLEY. Finally remaining in Canada long enough to pass Perisher and drive ONONDAGA and OJIBWA, he was again banished to Aus to head their SSTG. Another short stint in Canada was followed by a three-year exchange with the USN, that was cut short by a year so that Bob could move to the sunny west coast for a tour as captain of CALGARY. When the buy of the UPHOLDERS was announced, his west coast vacation ended and Bob moved to Ottawa where he served as Submarine Program Director until he retired in 2005.
Currently vacant. Volunteers are encouraged to put their hands up.
Bill resumed his previous duties as Past President on the sad passing of Peter "Hollywood" Heppleston Friday, 04 July 2021. Bill joined O boats in 1976 and qualified in 1977. Fun and adventure followed resulting in command of Ojibwa and Okanagan, a three year exchange with the Australian Submarine Squadron and four years in the UK with PMO SCLE.
TBP.
Firmly denying rumours he was the inspiration for the "Jonesy' character in Tom Clancy's Hunt for Red October, Gord Burns qualified submarines in 1979 as a Sonarman and served on all three Oberon boats. Putting his years of experience at ticking wets on the Junior Rates Mess fridge to good use, Gord is the current Vice President of the SAOC (Central). When not gleefully saying "Only the President can authorize that.", Gord is the Senior Technologist for skimmer Underwater Sensors and Handling Equipment at DMSS 7 in NDHQ.
John started his submarine shore training in 1984 and was posted to Ojibwa where he qualified in 1985 (with great thanks to all who helped him on the way!). He took the RN Junior Officer Warfare Course later that year and returned to the “Mighty OJ” as NavO. John’s favourite (and proudest) joke PER comment was that he “can drink beer faster than a pusser toilet can flush” a fitting remark by my Captain (Bill Irvine) and XO (Dave Soule). In 1986 he was lucky enough to be seconded to the RAN where he served as Sonics on HMAS Onslow and in late 1988 took the inaugural RAN Principal Warfare Officer Course (Submarines). John returned to Canada in 1989 where he was Staff Officer SSTG (aka “Son of SSTG). He was subsequently the XO of Onondaga as she was completing refit but left the Navy at the end of his hitch. John has been masquerading for the last twenty odd years as a commercial real estate lawyer in Toronto. John is extremely proud to have served in boats and, in particular, misses all the outstanding people – truly the cream of the crop. DBF!
As a former submarine sonarman, UC1, and CHOPS of many years standing, Fred Schatz is ideally suited to be membership director for the SAOC (Central). Fred can hear wheels touching runway whenever a new membership candidate arrives in town, and assumes the Ultra Quiet State to silently track his target. As a long-serving member of the SAOC, Fred is also the newsletter editor and remains eagerly hopeful each month for the chance to yell 'Stop the presses!' to the rest of the executive.
On a submarine there are two groups of people you never want annoy - cooks and pay writers. In a Submariners Association, it is the guy that runs the BBQ. Jerry volunteered for the job of Social Director and we took one look at the pile of raw steaks sitting beside the grill and voted him in unanimously.
Inventor of the well-loved post-entrée delicacy, and rumoured to be the inspiration for "Duff" beer on the Simpsons, Rick joined submarines in 1991 as a Combat Systems Engineer and quickly shot to fame by being the only officer ever banned from the SUBRON One wardroom for two full years. (Feel free to ask him to spin you his "buddy" and "incompetent" dits sometime.) While he served on all three Oberon boats, he only sailed on OJIBWA where, rather ironically, he held the position of Wardroom Bar Manager. When not spending other peoples money as the SAOC (Central) treasurer, Rick is currently the 140KW MG engineer for DNPS 4 in NDHQ.