From the 5th to 12th of May I had the priviledge of embarking in one of the most powerful assets of the US Navy – the carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt. Named for the 26th President of the United States, this ship exemplifies “TR”‘s maxim “Speak softly and carry a big stick.” My role onboard was as a representative of the US Naval Postgraduate School’s Regional Security Education Program (RSEP) to lecture the Strike Group staff and ship’s company about Arctic strategies, policies and navigation. This is seen as ever more relevant to the USN as senior administration officials become more vocal in advocating military engagement and “Freedom of Navigation” operations in the Arctic. I was joined in this short but impressive voyage by Professor Rob Huebert, of the University of Calgary, an expert in Arctic policy and history.
About the Author: Nigel Greenwood
Nigel Greenwood completed a 37-year naval career as the Commander of Canada’s Pacific naval forces. In this role he was responsible for: defence of Canada’s western maritime approaches; generation of ready forces for deployment to international maritime operations; Search and Rescue in the Pacific Northwest and over the landmass of BC and the Yukon; assistance to civil authorities for domestic emergencies and law enforcement; and maintenance of Canada’s maritime defence relations in the Pacific.
