Published April 29, 2014
Capt Mario Goupil will be retiring from the Canadian Forces after more than 35 years of dedicated and loyal service to Canada.
Capt Mario Goupil enrolled in the Canadian Forces in Sept 1976, Victoriaville Quebec as an Electrical Generating System Technician (EGS Tech).
Upon completing basic and English language training in CFB St-Jean, Capt Goupil graduated as an Electrical Generating Technician at the Canadian Forces School of Military Engineering at CFB Chilliwack. Upon his graduation, he was posted to CFB Penhold in Dec 1977. He took his release from the Canadian Forces in May 1981 and was employed for a period of nine months in Calgary as a Power Generating technician. Missing the Canadian Forces Way of Life, he decided to re-join the Military and was posted to CFS Mont-Apica in Feb 1982.
Promoted to the rank of MCpl in 1984, he was posted to CFS Senneterre and then CFB Ottawa in 1986. He was promoted to Sgt in 1989 and moved to 22 Wing North Bay. From 1992 to 1996 he was employed as a crew chief at 8 Wing Trenton with the Mobile Repair Team, installing and repairing Power Generation Equipment through out the CF. During this period he competed at the Readiness Challenge competition at Thindall AFB representing the CFME. He also played a major role as part of the Hurricane Andrew disaster relief team, restoring electrical power in south Florida. Capt Goupil reached the rank of WO in 1996 and moved back to 22 Wing North Bay where he was responsible for the operation and maintenance of the Underground Facilities. In 1999, he was promoted to MWO and was employed as the Construction Engineering Production Officer. Posted to NDHQ with DGLEPM in 2001, he was the LCMM for the deployable Power Generating Equipment that was located in Bosnia, Italy and Afghanistan. Promoted to CWO in 2002 he was relocated to DGAEPM and was appointed the R&CS Directorate CWO and Facility Senior Technical Advisor for the North Warning System. Capt Goupil was commissioned from the rank and promoted to Capt in 2008 where he is still employed with R&CS.
Capt Goupil has completed several deployment through out his career; CFS Alert in 1983 as a Power Plant Operator; Golan Heights in 1986/1987 as a Power Generating Equipment Maintainer; CFS Alert in 1992 employed as a supervisor in the construction of two Power Plants; CFS Alert in 1999/2000 as the Station Warrant Officer and the Station Construction Engineering Officer. He has also conducted several TAV visits in Bosnia and Italy.
Mario will remain in the Ottawa region with his spouse Diana and daughter Julia. He plans to take a few months off to catch up with the honey do list and of course, play guitar in the garage with the boys. Mario also plans to explore employment opportunity by the end of the summer.
A Depart with Dignity retirement event will occur at the Officer’s Mess 158 Gloucester St at 1130hrs on 15 June 12. Google Map Link Dress will be dress of the day or civilian casual. Confirmation of attendance and anecdotes can be sent to Maj Al Cameron.