Kenneth J. Summers
Encyclopedia
Rear Admiral Kenneth J. Summers was a Canadian naval officer and the commander of the Canadian contribution to the Coalition of the Gulf War
.
He graduated from Royal Military College
in Kingston in 1967 before serving as an officer both at sea and in several postings ashore. In 1989 he was promoted to Commodore
and appointed Commander Canadian Fleet and Chief of Staff Operations in Halifax, the appointment he was holding when Iraq
invaded Kuwait
in August
, 1990.
He assumed command of the Canadian Naval Task Force that sailed from Halifax to the Persian Gulf
, and upon arrival he was appointed Commander Canadian Forces Middle East, with headquarters in Bahrain
. All Canadian naval, air and land forces in the Gulf came under his command during the implementation of Operation FRICTION
, where Canadian naval and air units engaged in combat for the first time since the Korean War
.
After the Gulf War, he served in Maritime Forces Pacific Headquarters (MARPAC HQ) as Chief of Staff to Commander MARPAC 1991. He was promoted to Rear-Admiral and was appointed as a Commander Canadian Defence Liaison Staff Washington in 1992. He served in National Defence Headquarters, Ottawa as Chief of Personnel Planning and Resources Management 1994 and as Director General Maritime Development 1995. He was appointed Chief of Staff Operations, Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic
in Norfolk VA USA from 1997 to 2000. He retired in 2000.
Coalition of the Gulf War
The Coalition of the Gulf War were the countries officially opposed to the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait during the 1990 / 1991 Persian Gulf War.-Coalition by number of military personnel:-United States:*Norman Schwarzkopf*Colin Powell*Calvin Waller...
.
He graduated from Royal Military College
Royal Military College of Canada
The Royal Military College of Canada, RMC, or RMCC , is the military academy of the Canadian Forces, and is a degree-granting university. RMC was established in 1876. RMC is the only federal institution in Canada with degree granting powers...
in Kingston in 1967 before serving as an officer both at sea and in several postings ashore. In 1989 he was promoted to Commodore
Commodore (Canada)
Commodore is the lowest of the flag officer ranks in the Royal Canadian Navy; it is equivalent to Brigadier General in the Army and Air Force. It is junior to Rear Admiral and Major General, and senior to Captain and Colonel....
and appointed Commander Canadian Fleet and Chief of Staff Operations in Halifax, the appointment he was holding when Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
invaded Kuwait
Kuwait
The State of Kuwait is a sovereign Arab state situated in the north-east of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south at Khafji, and Iraq to the north at Basra. It lies on the north-western shore of the Persian Gulf. The name Kuwait is derived from the...
in August
August
August is the eighth month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian Calendars and one of seven months with a length of 31 days.This month was originally named Sextilis in Latin, because it was the sixth month in the original ten-month Roman calendar under Romulus in 753 BC, when March was the first...
, 1990.
He assumed command of the Canadian Naval Task Force that sailed from Halifax to the Persian Gulf
Persian Gulf
The Persian Gulf, in Southwest Asia, is an extension of the Indian Ocean located between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula.The Persian Gulf was the focus of the 1980–1988 Iran-Iraq War, in which each side attacked the other's oil tankers...
, and upon arrival he was appointed Commander Canadian Forces Middle East, with headquarters in Bahrain
Bahrain
' , officially the Kingdom of Bahrain , is a small island state near the western shores of the Persian Gulf. It is ruled by the Al Khalifa royal family. The population in 2010 stood at 1,214,705, including 235,108 non-nationals. Formerly an emirate, Bahrain was declared a kingdom in 2002.Bahrain is...
. All Canadian naval, air and land forces in the Gulf came under his command during the implementation of Operation FRICTION
Operation FRICTION
Operation FRICTION was a Canadian military operation that saw the contribution of 4,500 Canadian Forces personnel to the 1991 Gulf War. The US components, by far the largest, were Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm....
, where Canadian naval and air units engaged in combat for the first time since the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
.
After the Gulf War, he served in Maritime Forces Pacific Headquarters (MARPAC HQ) as Chief of Staff to Commander MARPAC 1991. He was promoted to Rear-Admiral and was appointed as a Commander Canadian Defence Liaison Staff Washington in 1992. He served in National Defence Headquarters, Ottawa as Chief of Personnel Planning and Resources Management 1994 and as Director General Maritime Development 1995. He was appointed Chief of Staff Operations, Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic
Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic
The Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic was one of two supreme commanders of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation , the other being the Supreme Allied Commander Europe . The SACLANT led Allied Command Atlantic, based at Norfolk, Virginia...
in Norfolk VA USA from 1997 to 2000. He retired in 2000.