A career change took Lt(N) Rob MacDonald around the world
Navy News / June 2, 2021
Lieutenant (Navy) (Lt(N)) Rob MacDonald is as a Naval Warfare Officer (NWO) deployed on Rotation 14 of Operation ARTEMIS, the Canadian Armed Forces’ (CAF) mission to help stop terrorism and to make Middle Eastern waters more secure. He is serving in Bahrain as the Regional Capacity Building Officer.
“At present, our deployed team on Operations ARTEMIS is working with a coalition of over 33 nations, on a small base with various national representatives, to make a corner of the world a better place,” says Lt(N) MacDonald.
After working as a digital artist, Lt(N) MacDonald, at the age of 37, decided he was interested in a stable career and a new start. Since he already had a university degree, Lt(N) MacDonald joined the Royal Canadian Navy through the Direct Entry Officer Plan.
“The Navy seemed like a natural choice for me,” as he puts it. He grew up in Nova Scotia and comes from a family of professional mariners. Much of his time in the Navy is spent sailing in warships around the world in places like the Caribbean, the Black Sea, and multiple journeys along the Atlantic and Pacific coasts.
Although he is not currently working at sea, Lt(N) MacDonald notes that life onboard a warship is busy, but that hectic life has allowed him to see more places in the world than the average person would.
“I get to travel to parts of the globe off the regular tourist route, as well as the popular destinations. I have experienced the beauty and the rage of the ocean and done some amazing things at sea that you can’t pay anyone to let you do on your own. Transiting through so many historical areas, like the Bosporus and the Dardanelles, you are surrounded by thousands of years of human history.”
In 2014-2015, during his deployment in Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Toronto on Op ACTIVE ENDEAVOUR / REASSURANCE, Lt(N) McDonald witnessed Syrian refugees escaping from the Syrian Civil War. His ship discovered groups of refugees that were fleeing via boats across the Mediterranean Sea trying to reach Europe for safety.
“We spent days following them, at a very slow pace, providing food and water shipments twice a day, until we were close enough to Sicily for the Italian Coast Guard to take over. I often wonder what happened to them and where they are now.”
Being a naval officer is a rewarding experience, but finding that balance between work and family life is key, he says. The realities of being a sailor is working aboard a ship for long durations at sea, which is a challenge for Lt(N) MacDonald and his wife, Maria. Both are competitive dragon boat paddlers in their spare time, and are supportive of each other to overcome challenges.
He fondly remembers the time when he received a care package while on operation from Maria, which was well stocked with chocolate.
Joining the Navy gave Lt(N) MacDonald a new sense of purpose and excitement he only dreamed of, he says.
“My only regret about joining the Navy is that I didn’t do it earlier.”