Meritorious Service Medal
- Awarded on: September 24, 2018
- Invested on: May 27, 2021
Rank: Captain(N)
From November 2016 to March 2018, Commander French served as the project director charged with developing an interim fleet of supply vessels for the Royal Canadian Navy. With little preparation or notice, he laid the groundwork for the first successful conversion of a civilian vessel for use as a naval auxiliary supply ship in support of naval operations at sea, thereby resolving a longstanding and significant support issue. In all phases of the project, from construction to launch, he demonstrated superb leadership and self-assurance that enhanced Canada’s naval capacity. His steadfast efforts have ensured that the Royal Canadian Navy is a far more effective and flexible instrument of national policy and a vital contributor to international engagements with Canada’s allies.
