Command team of Maritime Forces Pacific

Rear-Admiral (RAdm) David Patchell is a native of Ottawa, Ontario, and a 1998 graduate of the Royal Military College of Canada, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Defence Studies. He is also a graduate of the Royal College of Defence Studies in London, UK, where he earned a Postgraduate Certificate in Security and Strategy from King’s College London.

RAdm Patchell began his naval career in 1993 as an Ordinary Seaman with HMCS Carleton. Trained as a surface warfare officer, his early operational sea tours with the Pacific Fleet included service aboard HMCS Huron, HMCS Algonquin, and HMCS Vancouver, where he deployed as an Air Controller during Operation APOLLO. With the Atlantic Fleet, he served as Operations Officer on board HMCS Halifax and HMCS St. John's, and with Sea Training. He later served as Executive Officer of HMCS Athabaskan and subsequently HMCS Iroquois. He commanded HMCS Toronto, leading a deployment to the Middle East from which the ship’s company was awarded the U.S. Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation.

His shore tours have included Squadron Commander at the Royal Military College, Chief of Staff to the Base Commander, CFB Halifax, and Deputy Director of Naval Force Readiness in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Upon promotion to Captain(N), he was appointed Director Naval Strategic Management at National Defence Headquarters in Ottawa. Following his studies in London, he was promoted to Commodore and returned to the Naval Staff as Director General Naval Strategic Readiness.

He was subsequently promoted to Rear-Admiral in 2022 and appointed as Vice-Commander of the U.S. Second Fleet in Norfolk, Virginia. In August 2025, RAdm Patchell assumed command of Maritime Forces Pacific and Joint Task Force Pacific.

Chief Petty Officer First Class (CPO1) Jonathon Sorensen was born on 27 June 1982, and raised in Windsor, ON. On 27 April 1999, at the age of 16, he enrolled in the Naval Reserves as a Boatswain in HMCS Hunter. His first defining experiences at sea were born from sailing along the east coast aboard HMCS Summerside and Shawinigan.

On 15 March, 2002, he transferred to the Regular Force as a Hull Technician and attended QL3 training in Esquimalt, BC. In February 2003, he was posted to HMCS Algonquin for apprentice training, sailing extensively over the following 2 years, including for RIMPAC 2004. In September 2005 he commenced his 18-month QL5 course, followed by a posting to HMCS Winnipeg in January 2007. Winnipeg completed a refit, readiness training, participated in Operation PODIUM, and multiple domestic operations that included the interception of the migrant vessel MV Sun Sea.

Promotion to Petty Officer Second Class in July 2011 was subsequently followed by a posting as a Damage Control Instructor at Fleet School Pacific. In May 2014 he had the pleasure of being introduced to the best ship in the fleet, HMCS Vancouver, with a posting as the Hull Systems Supervisor. Between May 2014 and December 2015, he played a key role in reactivating the ship following its mid-life refit, once again working up with the crew, and deploying on Operation CARIBBE. In December 2015, he was promoted and posted to Fleet Maintenance Facility CAPE BRETON.

CPO1 Sorensen completed residential French training in 2016 prior to returning to HMCS Vancouver as the Senior Hull Technician. The intervening 6 months saw CPO1 Sorensen complete RIMPAC and deploy on Operation PROJECTION I-P. Soon after his return he was again promoted, at which point he assumed the role of Marine Systems Engineering Chief, guiding the department as the ship completed its sailing program and entered refit. He was posted to Director Military Careers in Ottawa, ON as the Marine Technician Career Manager in August 2019.

Following over two-and-a-half years in the National Capital Region, CPO1 Sorensen was promoted to his current rank in January 2022 and posted back to the mighty HMCS Vancouver as Coxswain. As Coxswain, he and Vancouver completed a busy deployment cycle which included readiness training, Task Group Exercises, and a subsequent deployment from June to December 2022 for RIMPAC, Operation PROJECTION I-P, and Operation NEON.

CPO1 Sorensen regretfully relinquished his position as Coxswain in April of 2023 to fulfill his appointment as the Fleet Maintenance Facility CAPE BRETON Chief Petty Officer.

He and his spouse Carrie have a 16-year-old daughter Avery and reside in beautiful Sooke, BC. He enjoys Hockey, outdoor sports and camping with his friends and family.

Captain (Navy) Sam Patchell was born in North Vancouver, British Columbia 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. In 2023 he deployed with the ship to the South China sea working with allies and partners as part of Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy. Following the deployment, Capt(N) Patchell was appointed to the position of Deputy Commander Canadian Fleet Pacific 25 June 2024.

He formally assumed command of Canadian Fleet Pacific on 2 July 2025. In this capacity, he was entrusted with the leadership and operational readiness of the fleet, overseeing a diverse array of ships and specialty units critical to Canada’s maritime security and national defence and security interests.

Sam and his wife Tara live in Victoria where they spend much of their time enjoying the outdoors with their two dogs Chedo and Scarlett.

A first generation Canadian, CPO1 Armand Reelick was born in Burnaby B.C. to his Dutch parents. He grew up mostly in BC except for a few short years in Toronto in the early 90’s before his family saw the light and moved back to B.C. this time to 100 Mile House in the Caribou Region. In 100 Mile CPO1 Reelick was an Army Cadet until he graduated from high school. At which time he joined the CAF as a Canadian Ranger as a member of 100 Mile House Patrol where he remained active member until he transferred to the Regular Force RCN as a Boatswain in 2000. Early in his career he sailed onboard HMCS Winnipeg, Protecteur, Ottawa, and Algonquin. He deployed to the Persian Gulf on three occasions, as well as Australia, Asia and South America. After a short stint ashore as a QL5 instructor, he was promoted to PO1 and appointed as the Coxswain of HMCS Oriole in 2013, where he remained for two and a half years sailing all over the Pacific Northwest. Promoted to CPO2 and posted to HMCS Calgary as the Chief Boatswains Mate in early 2016, during which the ship participated in RIMPAC and various other exercises.

After completing his CBM tour he was selected to be the Deputy Base Chief Petty Officer at CFB Esquimalt in the summer of 2017. Responsible variety of tasks, but most of his time was spent planning and executing ceremonial guards and commemorative parades, such as the Opening of the Provincial Legislature and overseeing all Remembrance Day events on Southern Vancouver Island. In 2018 Nijmegen Marches in the Netherlands with the MARPAC team which is a career highlights and he is still looking for additional opportunity to take on the challenge again.

In 2020 he embarked on the yearlong French Language Training online and after completion, he was posted to Sea Training Pacific as the CBM, where he remained until he was promoted to his current rank. CPO1 Reelick was appointed Coxswain of HMCS Calgary in March 2022, and remained there until January 2024 during which time he took the ship to sea for a short period and ramped it down for a major Docking Work Period. He visited the City of Calgary on occasion and really enjoyed his two visits flipping pancakes at Stampede. Immediately after leaving HMCS Calgary, he assumed the duties of Coxswain onboard HMCS Ottawa, where he deployed on Operation Horizon and Operation Neon 24-03 returning home in March of 2025, prior to moving to Canadian Fleet Pacific.

He lives with his wife Elicia in Colwood. They enjoy spending time at their cabin out past Sooke and enjoy travelling, especially to the Netherlands to visit family. CPO1 Reelick is an avid hockey player in the base intersection league and in the summers, he can be found usually frustrated, on a local golf course or taking in PFC soccer matches with Elicia.

Captain(N) Kevin Whiteside was born in Scarborough, Ontario on 12 March 1979. He joined the Canadian Armed Forces in 1998, graduating in 2002 from the Royal Military College in Kingston, Ontario. He was first commissioned as an Infantry Officer but medically transferred to the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) in 2004. He is the father of three awesome children, and married to his life partner, Lesley Whiteside, an elementary school teacher in Victoria, BC.

Since joining the Fleet in 2005, Kevin has served on many different ships in his roles as Frigate Navigator, Fleet Navigation Instructor, Deep Draft Navigator, Operations Room Officer, Operations Officer Sea Training (Pacific), and in his various Command roles. His operational experiences span the globe and many of the missions in which the RCN participate, including Operations ALTAIR, ARTEMIS, ACTIVE ENDEAVOUR, CARIBBE, PROJECTION, REASSURANCE, and NEON.

Kevin’s Command level appointments have included Executive Officer (XO) His Majesty's Canadian Ship (HMCS) Winnipeg (October 2014 - May 2016), XO Sea Training (Pacific) (June 2016 - December 2017), Executive Secretary to the 35th and 36th Commanders of the RCN (January 2019 - December 2020), and most recently, Commanding Officer, HMCS Vancouver (January 2021- February 2023).

Kevin has a Masters degree in Military and Defence Studies from the Australian National University and is a graduate of the Australian Command and Staff College. His amazing family has been active members of the Greater Victoria community for over 15 years. They look forward to furthering their involvement and strengthening their relationships with the community as they enter this next stage of their journey.

Chief Petty Officer 1st Class (CPO1) Susan ‘Sue’ Frisby was born and raised in Corner Brook, NL. She joined the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) at the age of 18 in January 1998, as a Tactical Acoustic Sonar Operator. She completed her Basic Training in Saint-Jean, QC and her initial Operator training in Victoria, BC, before being posted to her first ship, His Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Huron, in the fall of 1998.

CPO1 Frisby has served in various roles both ashore and at sea. A sailor first, she has spent much of her career onboard ships, serving on both Iroquois-Class destroyers (HMCS Huron and Algonquin) and Halifax-class frigates (HMC Ships Ottawa, Calgary, Vancouver, Regina, and Winnipeg).

In 2002, she sailed onboard HMCS Ottawa in support of anti-terrorism operations in the Persian Gulf, during Operation APOLLO. Maintaining an impressive level of fitness, she has been a ship’s diver and boarding party team member. When not posted to a ship, she has proven her ability as both an Instructor at the Canadian Forces Fleet School (CFFS) and an Analyst at the Acoustic Data Analysis Centre (ADAC).

Throughout her career CPO1 Frisby has continually challenged herself by taking on increasingly difficult positions.  In June 2018 she was promoted to CPO2, which saw her head back to HMCS Ottawa for a third time as the Operations Chief, a role she considers one of the highlights of her career.

In 2019, she left the ship and joined the CFB Esquimalt Base Command Team as Deputy Base Chief Petty Officer, a challenging role especially during the continuous adjustments of public health orders and restrictions during the pandemic.

CPO1 Frisby was promoted to her current rank in May 2021 and appointed to the position as the Unit Chief Petty Officer of MARPAC HQ in June. Her time there was short, as in February 2022 she achieved a milestone every naval chief strives for by becoming the Coxswain of a warship, HMCS Winnipeg. That posting saw her travel the world, once again, as Winnipeg deployed overseas to the Indo-Pacific in support of Operation PROJECTION where she supported the objectives of the Government of Canada and the 250 personnel, she had the pleasure of calling family for six months. In July of 2023, she was appointed to her current position of Base Chief CFB Esquimalt.

CPO1 Frisby is actively supported by her husband Aaron, daughter Mackenzie and son Jaxson.  Together they enjoy spending time as a family, taking full advantage of the West Coast Lifestyle through various outdoor activities.