"Ships are complex systems of systems that require naval architects to use creativity, innovation, and leadership to deliver vessels built to operate in the future maritime environment."
Yves-Etienne Landry
- Degree: Master of Engineering
- Grad year: 2022
- Program:
- Campus: Vancouver
I was born and raised in Jonquière, Québec and decided to join the Canadian Armed Forces straight out of high school to serve as a Naval Combat Systems Engineer. I received a B.Eng. in Mechanical Engineering from the Royal Military College of Canada and a Master’s Certificate in Project Management from Carleton University’s Sprott School of Business. My naval career has spanned over nineteen years, serving as the Project Integration Engineer for the Protected Military Satellite Communications project, the Weapons Engineer for the Canadian Surface Combatant project, Head of the Combat Systems Engineering Department onboard the HMCS Montréal, and most recently as the Project Security Manager and Information Manager for the Canadian Surface Combatant Project.
What has made your time at UBC memorable?
People would have to be at the top of the list! The industry experience of each professor allowed them to provide real-world examples and exercises that would benefit everyone when joining the industry. They consistently strived to pique our professional curiosity, challenged us to achieve our full potential and were always there to support us during difficult times. Our cohort had a wide array of knowledge and experience, which made every lecture more interesting since we were always encouraged to share stories with fellow classmates. Coming from a naval background, I particularly enjoyed learning more about the practices and operations in the commercial side. Besides people, I think another aspect of the program that should be mentioned is the ship design project. It gave us a chance to navigate the design process as a team while providing the opportunity to consolidate the knowledge we gained during our studies. As a finale, the student design celebration was a unique event where we were able to showcase our design in front of representatives from local shipyards and naval design firms.
What advice would you give a student entering your degree program?
Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering is a vast field of study. I have learned so much this past year and I often feel like I barely scratched the surface. Be curious, be engaged, ask questions and have fun!