Neil O’Rourke – VISS25
Director General and former Assistant Commissioner, Arctic Region, Canadian Coast Guard
Neil O’Rourke joined the Canadian Coast Guard in August 2009 and has held a number of increasingly senior leadership roles since that time.
In October 2012, Neil was appointed Director, Integrated Logistic Support. In this role, he was responsible for an array of technical and business services for the Integrated Technical Services. In June 2015, Neil was appointed as Senior Director, Safe Shipping and Economic Intelligence. During this time, he was responsible for the development of national strategies to sustain and transform the Canadian Coast Guard’s marine navigation programs. Neil was the national lead for Arctic program policy, user fees, and the implementation of e-Navigation in Canadian waters. He also served as a councillor with the International Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authority (IALA) on behalf of Canada.
In October 2018, Neil became the first Assistant Commissioner, Arctic region. In this role, Neil was asked to lead the implementation of the new Arctic region, by enhancing program and service delivery in the North to better meet the needs of Inuit, First Nation and Metis. From June 2020, he led the transition of the operational responsibility to the Arctic region through the development of a unique internal model between regions. This new model for regional service delivery was the first time that a federal region was inclusive of Inuit Nunangat, and has better prepared the Coast Guard to meet the future demands for service in the Canadian Arctic. Neil represented Canada as the Chair of the Arctic Coast Guard Forum Experts committee from May 2021 to January 2023.
In January 2023, Neil transitioned to the role of Director General, Integrated Technical Services. In this role, Neil was functionally responsible for the lifecycle management of all Coast Guard assets nationally. This includes the acquisition (of non-ship assets), in-service management and disposal. He was responsible for providing functional direction to the regions and Fleet Marine Engineering teams to ensure a consistent, national approach to managing Canadian Coast Guard assets.
Neil currently occupies the role of Director General, Fleet and Maritime Services. In this role, Neil has functional responsibility for the Canadian Coast Guard’s Fleet, operational planning, and maritime security capabilities.
Neil O’Rourke joined the Canadian Coast Guard in August 2009 and has held a number of increasingly senior leadership roles since that time.
In October 2012, Neil was appointed Director, Integrated Logistic Support. In this role, he was responsible for an array of technical and business services for the Integrated Technical Services. In June 2015, Neil was appointed as Senior Director, Safe Shipping and Economic Intelligence. During this time, he was responsible for the development of national strategies to sustain and transform the Canadian Coast Guard’s marine navigation programs. Neil was the national lead for Arctic program policy, user fees, and the implementation of e-Navigation in Canadian waters. He also served as a councillor with the International Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authority (IALA) on behalf of Canada.
In October 2018, Neil became the first Assistant Commissioner, Arctic region. In this role, Neil was asked to lead the implementation of the new Arctic region, by enhancing program and service delivery in the North to better meet the needs of Inuit, First Nation and Metis. From June 2020, he led the transition of the operational responsibility to the Arctic region through the development of a unique internal model between regions. This new model for regional service delivery was the first time that a federal region was inclusive of Inuit Nunangat, and has better prepared the Coast Guard to meet the future demands for service in the Canadian Arctic. Neil represented Canada as the Chair of the Arctic Coast Guard Forum Experts committee from May 2021 to January 2023.
In January 2023, Neil transitioned to the role of Director General, Integrated Technical Services. In this role, Neil was functionally responsible for the lifecycle management of all Coast Guard assets nationally. This includes the acquisition (of non-ship assets), in-service management and disposal. He was responsible for providing functional direction to the regions and Fleet Marine Engineering teams to ensure a consistent, national approach to managing Canadian Coast Guard assets.
Neil currently occupies the role of Director General, Fleet and Maritime Services. In this role, Neil has functional responsibility for the Canadian Coast Guard’s Fleet, operational planning, and maritime security capabilities.
