Inkless Wells

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FWIW

by Paul Wells on Tuesday, March 17, 2009 11:43pm - 28 Comments

Biography of Marc Garneau (link — opens a .pdf):

Born in February 1949 in Quebec City, Canada. He received his early education in Quebec City and Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu in Quebec and in London, England. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering Physics from the Royal Military College of Kingston in 1970, and a Doctorate in Electrical Engineering from the Imperial College of Science and Technology, London, England, in 1973. He attended the Canadian Forces Command and Staff College of Toronto in 1982-1983.

Marc Garneau was a Combat Systems Engineer in HMCS Algonquin from 1974-76. While serving as an instructor in naval weapon systems at the Canadian Forces Fleet School in Halifax, 1976-77, he designed a simulator for use in training weapons officers in the use of missile systems aboard Tribal class destroyers. He served as Project Engineer in naval weapon systems in Ottawa from 1977 to 1980. He returned to Halifax with the Naval Engineering Unit, which troubleshoots and performs trials on ship-fitted equipment, and helped develop an aircraft-towed target system for the scoring of naval gunnery accuracy. Promoted to Commander in 1982 while at Staff College, he was transferred to Ottawa in 1983 and became design authority for naval communications and electronic warfare equipment and systems. In January 1986, he was promoted to Captain. He retired from the Navy in 1989. He is one of six Canadian astronauts selected in December 1983. He was seconded to the Canadian Astronaut Program from the Department of National Defence in February 1984 to begin astronaut training. He became the first Canadian astronaut to fly in space as a Payload Specialist on Shuttle Mission 41-G in October 1984. He was named Deputy Director of the Canadian Astronaut Program in 1989, providing technical and program support in the preparation of experiments to fly during future Canadian missions. He was selected for Mission Specialist training in July 1992.

Marc Garneau reported to the Johnson Space Center in August 1992. He completed a one-year training and evaluation program to be qualified for flight assignment as a Mission Specialist. He initially worked on technical issues for the Astronaut Office Robotics Integration Team and subsequently served as Capsule Communicator (CAPCOM) in Mission Control during Shuttle flights. A veteran of three space flights (STS-41G in 1984, STS-77 in 1996 and STS-97 in 2000), Marc Garneau has logged over 677 hours in space.

In February 2001, Marc Garneau was appointed Executive Vice President, Canadian Space Agency. He was subsequently appointed President of the Canadian Space Agency, effective November 22, 2001.

Honorary Fellow of the Canadian Aeronautics and Space Institute. Member of the Association of Professional Engineers of Nova Scotia, and the Navy League of Canada. He was named Honorary Member of the Canadian Society of Aviation Medicine in 1988 and a Member of the International Academy of Astronautics in 2002. Marc Garneau is the National Honourary Patron of Hope Air and Project North Star and the President of the Board of the McGill Chamber Orchestra.

He was promoted Companion of the Order of Canada in 2003, having been appointed as an Officer in 1984. Named Chancellor of Carleton University (2003). Awarded a Doctor of Science degree, honoris causa, by York University (2002) and the University of Lethbridge (2001). Recipient of the Prix Montfort en sciences (2003); Golden Jubilee Medal of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II (2002); NASA Exceptional Service Medal (1997); NASA Space Flight Medals (1984, 1996, 2000); the Canadian Decoration (military) (1980); the Athlone Fellowship (1970); and the National Research Council (NRC) Bursary (1972). Awarded Honorary Doctorates by the University of Ottawa (1997); the Collège militaire royal de Saint-Jean (1990); the Université Laval, Québec (1985); the Technical University of Nova Scotia (1985); and the Royal Military College, Kingston, Ontario (1985). Co-recipient of the F.W. (Casey) Baldwin Award in 1985 for the best paper in the Canadian Aeronautics and Space Journal.

Tags: Gordon O'Connor call home, marc garneau

More by Paul Wells

madeyoulook

You’re not posting Goodyear’s accomplishments! As far as we know, none of his patients suffered immediate paralysis from a neck/spine manipulation. It is also possible that he might have spared a young child some pain by advising the parents to refrain from vaccinating against such trifles as meningitis and measles. So there. Balance please, Paul.
Terren

I want Marc Garneau as minister of science and technology when the Liberals win the next election,
Critical Reasoning

Mark Garneau is so qualified for Goodyear’s job it’s enough to make one question the merits of parliamentary democracy… well, not quite. But almost.

madeyoulook

Remember, all Harper poached Emerson… :)

Critical Reasoning

Marc can’t be poached. He’s a Liberal through and through. Harper will have to look for talent elsewhere.

It’s time to clear the deadwood from the back benches and recruit new talent. One of the problems with uniting the right is that you get stuck with lots of flotsam who never really had to compete for their nominations.

madeyoulook

Howzat? In ridings where Reform & PC battled each other, I can think of two candidates who would possibly step up.

Critical Reasoning

In many cases neither the Reform or PC candidate were particularly impressive, and the nomination went to the Reform candidate almost by default because they controlled a lot of the merged riding associations.

Lord Kitchener’s Own

As I’ve mentioned elsewhere, I’ve actually moved on now from any concern over the Minister’s “belief” in evolution.

My focus is now squarely on his contention that we’re apparently evolving all the time. “Every year, every decade” in the Minister’s words. Including, apparently, that women are somehow “evolving” the ability to walk more comfortably in high heals. And, is he suggesting that we’re somehow “evolving” some kind of natural resistance to solar radiation??? ‘Cause that would be cool!

At this point, if there’s any major flooding in the country this Spring, I feel like we’ll all be lucky if our Minister of Science and Technology can manage to avoid suggesting we’ll soon be developing gills.

Patrick

Southern Manitoba is gearing for some flooding… watch out!

dan in van

I’d say that Goodyear and his gang have done a good job of proving that we’re not ALL evolving. For some, the motion of the day is devolving.
Chris S.

Not only is he light-years ahead of the Minister in qualification, Mr. Garneau is also a gentleman and a true Canadian hero.
D

And your point is? Yes, Garneau would make a great cabinet minister.

The issue at this juncture is not the length of Marc Garneau’s CV (or his comments about Goodyear’s religious views) but it should be the brevity of Gary Goodyear’s CV, and the blatant inappropriateness of Goodyear being our current Minister of State for Science and Technology (as Mr. Goodyear has made patently obvious today and in the last couple of weeks).

Chris S.

As the title says, For What It’s Worth.

I guess it’s another example of the talent vacuum in the current Conservative Party.

Anon

Yes, very nice CV. But can Garneau be as obnoxious and rude as Goodyear was in his time as Committee Chairman, or now as Science Minister?
Sandi

You think it’s easy studying cement and running shoes? Cracking a few bones? Being so Christian you have no tolerance and a temper trantrum problem?
John W

Still, when these anti science views infiltrated the Ontario Government through Harris regime, there were consequences. Ditto “W”. It matters.
Obama’s finest moment: “We will restore science. . . ”

.
Two Yen

Garneau has demonstrated on a number of occasions that he is not a particularly good politician. Just because he has a flashy cv does not mean he would necessarily make a great cabinet minister.

I think of that nuclear scientist Jimmie Carter who was one of the greatest failures as US president in the past 40 years (until George W came along).

Critical Reasoning

You may be making a good point, but I don’t know because you’re not being specific enough. How has Garneau demonstrated that he is a bad pol?
Paul Wells

I’ve been generally unimpressed by Garneau’s political prowess. And unlike many people (I grow old…) I remember Michel Dupuy, who went into cabinet in 1993 with an extraordinary cv and didn’t shine. I wouldn’t describe Garneau’s cv as “flashy;” I’d call it solid. I’d forgotten how rigorous the astronaut-selection process is. B students don’t get in. I offer no endorsement of the guy, but I also hope our politics hasn’t sunk to where demonstrated real-world excellence, or even competence, is a handicap.

Look, cards on table: after defending Goodyear’s right to believe what he believes yesterday morning, I was profoundly rattled by his glib and stupid comments on evolution on Power Play yesterday. I now see no evidence that he has even a grade-schooler’s comprehension of the theory. I greatly fear my grasp of theology beats his grasp of science. And I’m not running to be Moderator of the United Church.

Jim

“Profoundly Rattled”. Yes, that also sums his responses on evolution up nicely. There’s no smoke without fire and he must surely have been briefed before the TV interview after being carpet-bagged by Anne McIlroy.

His comments will haunt the Tory election campaign later this year.

Critical Reasoning

His comments will haunt the Tory election campaign later this year.

I doubt it. It’s a bit of a tempest in a teapot, and the 30 million Canadians who don’t pay attention to such details don’t really care. Goodyear’s comments will be moot after the next cabinet shuffle.

Jim

This issue may be a tempest in a teapot, but Mr. Goodyear has spewed some highly quotable quotes that will follow him. It’s likely he’ll be shuffled but saying whacky things about evolving to walk on concrete as an expression of the theory of evolution is plain stupid and serves to highlight ignorance of the theory or perhaps reflects is his way of ridiculing it. That his demonstrated ignorance about evolution may be shared by many is not an excuse. In his position, he should know (or be advised) better.

Chris S.

Paul, what turned you off Garneau? I thought he shone on the campaign circuit, having gotten in months before the by-election and then enduring the additional writ period. Admittedly, he has exhibited a bit of greenness, but I am curious as to what specifically doesn’t impress you. Or is it just a lack of impressing?

Chuck VS Macleans

Yes and when Gordon O’Conner was minster of Defenece the press loved him.
Jim

Perhaps the Conservative Party’s ultimate undoing will be its lack of confidence in its own elected members. Ministers appear to be appointed primarily for their willingness to tow the line with the PMO and to speak only when spoken to (by the PM). There are a few good ministers but they are in the minority. It is not even about experience, as that can be learned, its about instinct and ability to think and talk simultaneously. The Liberal Party has its share of dogs but if it is to overcome the Conservative appeal to the lowest common denominator (i.e. tax cuts and selfish appeal) it will need to talk up the qualities of its own members. Ignatieff’s style is very different from Harper (to the extent that he might even be chided for copying Obama) and given the two parties have more similarities in their policies than differences, contrasting the two teams and differentiating their leadership might be a winning strategy for the Libs.

Garneau is superbly qualified as an astronaut and a scientist and he can speak with the conviction of someone who sees the long-term benefits of research. He also acted as a gentlemen yesterday in defending Goodyear’s dithering on evolution, by saying a persons faith is not relevant to his job. I somehow doubt Mr. Goodyear would have reciprocated if the shoe had been on the other foot.

Critical Reasoning

I somehow doubt Mr. Goodyear would have reciprocated if the shoe had been on the other foot.

I don’t think you can assume that. Goodyear’s grasp of evolution may be seriously deficient but I haven’t seen any evidence to impugn his character.

Jim

You might want to read his responses in Hansard – especially on the topic of his portfolio. There is also the much reported interaction he had with University representatives on February 25th. Not much sign of benevolence or patience. Of course, the behaviour of many MPs in the House leaves a lot to be desired.
Lord Kitchener’s Own

I somehow doubt Mr. Goodyear would have reciprocated if the shoe had been on the other foot.

It depends, I suppose, on whether the shoe in question is one to which his feet had evolved such that the shoe fit properly, doesn’t it?

(LOL, sorry, couldn’t resist that. His musing about evolution were just TOO FUNNY).