Dean McFadden
P. Dean McFadden, CMM, CD is a retired officer of the Canadian Forces. He was Chief of the Maritime Staff from 2009 to 2011 and last to hold the post.
Career
Born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, McFadden was educated at Belfast Royal Academy before his family immigrated to Vancouver, British Columbia in 1973.He joined the Canadian Forces in 1974 as a Cadet at Royal Roads Military College. He served in HMC Ships Yukon, Restigouche and Miramichi, as well as instructing navigation at the Naval Officers’ Training Centre Venture. In 1982 he released from the CF to work with the Canadian Coast Guard at Vessel Traffic Services in Vancouver.
In 1983 he re-enrolled in the CF serving in HMC Ships Chaleur, Miramichi, Kootenay and Thunder. In 1987 attended the year-long Combat Control Officers Course, followed in 1987 by an appointment to the destroyer-escort HMCS Qu’Appelle. In 1989 he was appointed to the staff of the NATO Commander-in-Chief Eastern Atlantic at Northwood UK in support of the Standing Naval Force Atlantic. In 1990, on return to Canada, he served at the Canadian Forces Fleet School Halifax NS, followed by the staff of the Commander Fifth Canadian Destroyer Squadron, subsequently the Seventh Maritime Operations Group. In 1996 he attended the Canadian Forces Command and Staff College in Toronto, and later that year, on promotion to Commander he returned to Halifax as Executive Officer of the replenishment ship HMCS Provider. In 1997 he assumed command of the frigate HMCS Montreal, and in 1999 he was appointed Commander Sea Training.
In 2000 he was promoted Captain and assumed responsibilities as Director Maritime Strategy for the Chief of the Maritime Staff at National Defence Headquarters in Ottawa. Following year-long language training, in 2002 he was appointed Director Asia-Pacific Policy at NDHQ. In December 2003, upon completion of Advanced Military Studies at the Canadian Forces College, he returned to the east coast and assumed command of the Fifth Maritime Operations Group. Promoted Commodore in 2005, he assumed command of the Atlantic Fleet. In 2006 he was promoted to Rear-Admiral and assumed command of Maritime Forces Atlantic in August of that year.
He served as Commander of Canada Command and as the Commander of Maritime Forces Atlantic, as well as Commander of Joint Task Force Atlantic.
He became Chief of the Maritime Staff in 2009 and on his retirement in 2011 was appointed a Commander of the Order of Military Merit.
McFadden is married to Eva McFadden from Bedford, Nova Scotia and has two children.
Awards and decorations
McFadden's personal awards and decorations include the following:| Ribbon | Description | Notes |
| Order of Military Merit |
| |
| Special Service Medal | ||
| Canadian Forces Decoration |