Glenn V. Davidson
Encyclopedia
Glenn V. Davidson CMM
, CD
is a senior naval officer
in the Canadian Forces
.
He joined the Naval Reserve in 1970 and transferred to the regular forces in 1974 after completing his university studies at the University of King's College
in Halifax. Specialising in navigation and air control, Davidson saw service in the Atlantic
and Pacific Ocean
s, as well as undertaking various staff and headquarters appointments before taking command of HMCS Kootenay
in 1988.
Davidson remained in command of Kootenay until 1991. After a posting to the Canadian Embassy in Tokyo
, Japan
at a military attache, in 1995 he was appointed Commander of Maritime Operations Group Two, with command over a fleet including seven frigate
s and destroyers and an operational support ship. In 1997 he was promoted to commodore
and took up the post of Direct General Naval Personnel. He was promoted to rear admiral
in 2000 and in 2002 became a Commander of the Order of Military Merit.
Between 2002 and 2004 he took command of Maritime Forces Atlantic
, which encompassed all Canadian naval forces in the Atlantic—some 8,000 personnel—and oversaw the deployment of ships to the Persian Gulf
as part of Operation Apollo
, Canada's contribution to the war in Afghanistan
. In 2004 he was appointed the Canadian military representative to the NATO Military Committee in NATO Headquarters in Brussels
. He held this post until 2008.
From 2008 to 2011, he served as Canada's Ambassador to Syria. In August 2011, he was appointed as Canada's Ambassador to the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.
Order of Military Merit (Canada)
The Order of Military Merit is a military honour for merit that is, within the Canadian system of honours, the second highest order administered by the Governor General-in-Council, on behalf of the Queen of Canada...
, CD
Canadian Forces Decoration
The Canadian Forces Decoration is a Canadian award bestowed upon members of the Canadian Forces who have completed twelve years of military service, with certain conditions. By convention, it is also given to the Governor General of Canada upon his or her appointment as viceroy, which includes the...
is a senior naval officer
Officer (armed forces)
An officer is a member of an armed force or uniformed service who holds a position of authority. Commissioned officers derive authority directly from a sovereign power and, as such, hold a commission charging them with the duties and responsibilities of a specific office or position...
in the Canadian Forces
Canadian Forces
The Canadian Forces , officially the Canadian Armed Forces , are the unified armed forces of Canada, as constituted by the National Defence Act, which states: "The Canadian Forces are the armed forces of Her Majesty raised by Canada and consist of one Service called the Canadian Armed Forces."...
.
He joined the Naval Reserve in 1970 and transferred to the regular forces in 1974 after completing his university studies at the University of King's College
University of King's College
The University of King's College is a post-secondary institution in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. King's is a small liberal arts university offering mainly undergraduate programs....
in Halifax. Specialising in navigation and air control, Davidson saw service in the Atlantic
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
and Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
s, as well as undertaking various staff and headquarters appointments before taking command of HMCS Kootenay
HMCS Kootenay (DDE 258)
HMCS Kootenay was a that served in the Royal Canadian Navy from 1959-1996.She was the fifth ship in her class and the second vessel to carry the designation ....
in 1988.
Davidson remained in command of Kootenay until 1991. After a posting to the Canadian Embassy in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
at a military attache, in 1995 he was appointed Commander of Maritime Operations Group Two, with command over a fleet including seven frigate
Frigate
A frigate is any of several types of warship, the term having been used for ships of various sizes and roles over the last few centuries.In the 17th century, the term was used for any warship built for speed and maneuverability, the description often used being "frigate-built"...
s and destroyers and an operational support ship. In 1997 he was promoted to commodore
Commodore (rank)
Commodore is a military rank used in many navies that is superior to a navy captain, but below a rear admiral. Non-English-speaking nations often use the rank of flotilla admiral or counter admiral as an equivalent .It is often regarded as a one-star rank with a NATO code of OF-6, but is not always...
and took up the post of Direct General Naval Personnel. He was promoted to rear admiral
Rear Admiral
Rear admiral is a naval commissioned officer rank above that of a commodore and captain, and below that of a vice admiral. It is generally regarded as the lowest of the "admiral" ranks, which are also sometimes referred to as "flag officers" or "flag ranks"...
in 2000 and in 2002 became a Commander of the Order of Military Merit.
Between 2002 and 2004 he took command of Maritime Forces Atlantic
Maritime Forces Atlantic
In the Canadian Forces, Maritime Forces Atlantic is responsible for the fleet and operations of the Royal Canadian Navy in the Atlantic Ocean and Arctic Ocean. The Commander of MARLANT is a two-star Rear Admiral....
, which encompassed all Canadian naval forces in the Atlantic—some 8,000 personnel—and oversaw the deployment of ships to the Persian Gulf
Persian Gulf
The Persian Gulf, in Southwest Asia, is an extension of the Indian Ocean located between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula.The Persian Gulf was the focus of the 1980–1988 Iran-Iraq War, in which each side attacked the other's oil tankers...
as part of Operation Apollo
Operation APOLLO
Operation APOLLO was the codename for an operation conducted by Canadian Forces in support of the United States in its military operations in Afghanistan. The operation took place from October 2001 to October 2003...
, Canada's contribution to the war in Afghanistan
War in Afghanistan (2001–present)
The War in Afghanistan began on October 7, 2001, as the armed forces of the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Australia, and the Afghan United Front launched Operation Enduring Freedom...
. In 2004 he was appointed the Canadian military representative to the NATO Military Committee in NATO Headquarters in Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
. He held this post until 2008.
From 2008 to 2011, he served as Canada's Ambassador to Syria. In August 2011, he was appointed as Canada's Ambassador to the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.