Brian Walter Natale Santarpia is a retired Canadian naval officer and former Commander Maritime Forces Atlantic. He served in the Canadian Forces from 1986 to 2023.
Brian Santarpia | |
|---|---|
 Santarpia (right) | |
| Allegiance |  Canada |
| Service/ |  Royal Canadian Navy |
| Rank | Rear Admiral |
| Commands held | |
Career edit
He joined the Canadian Forces as part of Maritime Command as a trainee MARS (Maritime Surface/Sub-surface) officer in 1986 and served in various postings before commanding HMCS St. John's from January 2007 to July 2008.[1][2]
This was followed by a stint as Commanding Officer of Sea Training Atlantic.[1] In 2009 he was promoted to captain and served as an advisor to the Vice Chief of the Defence Staff before taking command of CFB Halifax.[1]
He was promoted to commodore in July 2013 as Director General Naval Personnel.[1] In December 2014 he commanded Combined Task Force 150.[1] He was appointed Commander Maritime Forces Atlantic in June 2020.[1]
In 2020, as chief of staff of the Canadian Joint Operations Command, Santarpia privately supported using the COVID-19 pandemic as an opportunity to test propaganda techniques on Canadians, saying “This is really a learning opportunity for all of us and a chance to start getting information operations into our (CAF-DND) routine."[3]
In March 2022, he acknowledged having failed to provide effective support to a female officer who had complained of sexual harassment.[4]
In June 2023 Santarpia retired from the Canadian Forces.
Awards and decorations edit
Santarpia's personal awards and decorations include the following:
| Ribbon | Description | Notes |
| |
Special Service Medal |
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Canadian Peacekeeping Service Medal | |
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Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Medal |
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Canadian Forces' Decoration (CD) |
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Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal |
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Command Commendation
References edit
- ^ a b c d e f "Rear-Admiral B.W.N. Santarpia, CD". Royal Canadian Navy. Retrieved June 29, 2021.
- ^ "RAdm Santarpia takes over as new Commander of MARLANT and JTFA". Royal Canadian Navy. July 27, 2020. Retrieved June 29, 2021.
- ^ "Military leaders saw pandemic as unique opportunity to test propaganda techniques on Canadians, Forces report says". Ottawa Citizen. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
- ^ "Two senior female officers quitting the navy over military's handling of sexual misconduct case". CBC News. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
- ^ "The Diamond Jubilee Medal List". The Governor General of Canada.
- ^ "The Platinum Jubilee Medal List" (PDF). Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia.
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