LCdr Curtis MacAulay: Work challenges, new cultures and lots of push-ups

Navy News / June 4, 2021

“My team helps deliver the vital communications needed between our headquarters in Bahrain and the ships we are commanding at sea. I also am responsible for the linkages back home to Canada,” he says.

When LCdr MacAulay joined the CAF one of his dreams was to travel and have adventures like none other. So far, he has been to five different continents and is excitedly waiting for the day he visits the remaining two by travelling to South America and Antarctica. Part of travel is meeting new people. He has made friends that come from different parts of the world and diverse cultures. During one deployment, he worked closely with Australians and New Zealanders, among those from other partner nations.

LCdr MacAulay has held many positions in the Navy over his career like a bridge watch keeper on a Canadian Patrol Frigate, where he was responsible for the safe navigation of the ship and its over 200-strong crew. In 2017 he was a ship’s operations officer, charged with self-defence of the ship. During one training mission as the operations officer of Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Montreal, he commanded a live-fire exercise where he fired two types of missile systems from the ship.

“I’m still serving in the Navy because I love what I do mostly. Every few years, by design we move into different jobs, and that always keeps us learning and enables new challenges,” says LCdr MacAulay.

From a professional standpoint, he feels confident that the Navy is well-equipped with modern technology and systems. This builds confidence amongst the crew members aboard ships, adding to the Navy’s goal of maritime defence of Canada. LCdr MacAulay emphasizes that he is also learning something new, so he is seldom bored by his work.

LCdr MacAulay grew up in Nova Scotia where there is a strong naval presence. In fact, he was lucky enough in his career to be posted near his hometown. At the time he was the Detachment Commander for the Canadian Forces Recruiting Centre in Sydney, N.S. He found purpose in this role meeting the numerous applicants to discuss future career plans, and encourages those interested in joining the Forces to go online and start their applications!

One of his personal goals is to do 1,000 push-ups per day by the end of his deployment.