Command Team

Biographies

Lieutenant-Commander Linda Mushanski, CD
Commanding Officer
HMCS QUEEN

Lieutenant-Commander Linda Mushanski enrolled in the Naval Reserve in 1978 in HMCS QUEEN as a Boatswain.

As a student attending the University of Regina, LCdr Mushanski transferred from service in the lower deck to the Naval Reserve Officer Cadet program for training as a Logistics Officer; she was commissioned as a Sub-Lieutenant in August 1980.

During her years as a commissioned officer, LCdr Mushanski has held various appointments including Officer in Charge of three Summer Youth Employment Programs in Regina, Directing Staff of the Staff Training Reserve (STAR 1) at Canadian Forces Command and Staff College in Toronto and President of several Merit Boards at Naval Reserve Headquarters in Québec City. At HMCS QUEEN, she has held various positions and appointments, including Supply Officer, Operations Officer, and Executive Officer. LCdr Mushanski served as Commanding Officer of HMCS QUEEN from April 2001 - June 2004. In addition, she has served as Honorary Aide de Camp for two Lieutenant Governors.

Although most of her time has been as a Class A Reservist, LCdr Mushanski was granted a two year leave of absence from her civilian position to serve a two year Class B position with Joint Task Force North. From September 2006 to August 2008, she served as the Commanding Officer of Regional Cadet Support Unit (Northern) and Detachment Commander of Joint Task Force North Detachment Yukon in Whitehorse, Yukon Territory. This position included headquarters support to the cadet units in the three territories and the Whitehorse Cadet Camp as well as the senior Domestic Operations Liaison Officer in the Yukon. The main scope of responsibility was to provide situational awareness of the Yukon Territory for Joint Task Force North Headquarters in Yellowknife and Canada Command and provide daily contact for the military to other Federal, Territorial and Municipal governments and other agencies such as Emergency Measures Organization. (EMO) At the end of her contract, she returned to HMCS QUEEN as the unit Logistics Officer.

LCdr Mushanski enjoys being an active member of the community. She is an adult member and Trainer for Girl Guides of Canada-Guides du Canada and has taken part in a number of national and international Guiding events throughout Canada and overseas. She serves on the Board of Directors for the Duke of Edinburgh Award Program, Saskatchewan council and acts as a mentor and resource person for participants in the program. She is also an active volunteer member of Search and Rescue Regina.

Lieutenant(N) Scott Dyson, CD
Executive Officer
HMCS QUEEN

Lt(N) Dyson enrolled in the Naval Reserve during his third year of University in 2000. After graduating from the University of King’s College with a Bachelor degree in Journalism, with honours in 2001, moved to Victoria, BC.

Lt(N) Dyson completed his MARS training in 2003 and took a his first class C contract on the coast as a watch keeper at the Port Security Section Esquimalt. Three months later he switched contracts with another officer and became DeckO on HMCS SASKATOON.

Lt(N) Dyson completed in the FNO course in October 2005 and was posted to HMCS WHITEHORSE as the Navigating Officer. In 2007, he became Operations Officer and on occasion acting Executive Officer. Lt(N) Dyson stayed onboard  WHITEHORSE until the spring of 2008.

After leaving the WHITEHORSE, he took a contract at the Naval Officer Training Centre (NOTC). While there, he passed his ORCA OIC board. He also had the opportunity to act as Navigation Advisor to two visiting US warships, three USNS, and a civilian container ship contracted to the CF.

During the fall of 2008, Lt(N) Dyson submitted his application for a component transfer into the regular force; he completed the process in March 2009. He stayed at NOTC until September 2009, before joining HMCS WINNIPEG as the Navigator. While serving on the WINNIPEG, he participated in many international exercises and operations, such as OP PODIUM and OP POSEIDON.

Lt(N) Dyson returned to NOTC for a second posting as an instructor in October 2011. The following spring, in April 2012, he was posted to HMCS QUEEN as the Administration Officer and Regular Force Support Staff. He was appointed XO in July 2012.

Petty Officer 1^st Class John Wilkinson
Coxswain
HMCS QUEEN

Petty Officer 1st Class John O. Wilkinson enrolled in the Canadian Forces in 1977 and departed for Cornwallis that April.

On completion of recruit training, PO 1 Wilkinson was posted to Halifax to complete occupational training as a Radar Plotter.  He was posted to HMCS QU’APPELLE, HMCS RESTIGOUCHE, and then back to Training Squadron in HMCS YUKON.

PO 1 Wilkinson re-mustered to Finance Clerk in 1984, and was posted to CFB Esquimalt followed by HMCS RESTIGOUCHE. After completing his three year, tour he was promoted to MS and posted to CFE LAHR, Germany.

Upon returning to Canada, he was posted to 15 Wing Moose Jaw as an internal audit and later as the senior finance clerk with his promotion to PO 2.  Soon after his promotion, he volunteered and was deployed to HAITI with the R22eR from July to Dec 1997 as the NPFAO, where he received the Contingent Commanders Commendation.

Shortly after the amalgation of the finance and administration trades and after he became an RMS Clerk, PO 1 Wilkinson was posted back to CFB Esquimalt as the Base Chief’s Clerk.

Thereafter, he was posted back to sea on board HMCS ALGONQUIN where he completed a three year tour that included Australia, New Zealand, American Samoa, and deploying on OP APPOLLO to the Gulf of Oman. During this deployment, he convinced the Ship’s Captain to fly a very special flag—which he did—and for 92 minutes, the Saskatchewan Roughriders flag flew from the mast of HMCS ALGONQUIN.

Promoted to PO 1, he was posted from ALGONQUIN to HMCS QUEEN in Regina, remaining there for almost two years until he went back to 15 Wing for two years.

He was then posted to DRMIS Advanced Training in Ottawa. With DRMIS, PO 1 Wilkinson travelled Canada instructing units in budget and DRMIS functions. He was with DRMIS for just over a year and then was posted back to HMCS QUEEN.