Vice Admiral John Charles O'Brien OC, CD (16 December 1918 – 24 March 1996) was a Canadian Forces officer who served as Commander Maritime Command from 19 July 1966 to 6 July 1970.
Career O'Brien joined the Royal Canadian Navy in 1935.O'Brien, John Charles The Nauticapedia He was in action off Norway in 1939, commanded a small boat at the Dunkirk evacuation in 1940, served as a Signals Officer for the Allied invasion of Sicily in 1943 during the Second World War. He became Director Naval Training in 1955, Director Naval Communications in 1957 and Commanding Officer of the aircraft carrier in 1959. He went on to be Naval Member of the Canadian Joint Staff in Washington, D.C. in 1961, Senior Canadian Officer Afloat (Atlantic) in 1964 and Commander Maritime Command in 1966. His last appointment was as Commandant of the NATO Defense College in Rome in 1970 before retiring in 1973.
O'Brien married Stephanie Frances Swire; she died on 2 October 2006.Obituary: Stephanie Frances O'Brien The Telegraph, October 2006
Awards and decorations Obrien's personal awards and decorations include the following:
RibbonDescriptionNotes Order of Canada (OC) Appointed Officer (OC) on 26 June 1970 1939–1945 Star WWII 1939-1945 Atlantic Star WWII 1939-1945 Africa Star WWII 1939-1945 Italy Star WWII 1939-1945 Defence Medal (United Kingdom) WWII 1939-1945 Canadian Volunteer Service Medal WWII 1939-1945 with Overseas Service bar War Medal 1939–1945 WWII 1939-1945 Special Service Medal with NATO-OTAN Clasp Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal Decoration awarded in 1952 Canadian Centennial Medal Decoration awarded in 1967 Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal Decoration awarded in 1977 Canadian version 125th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada Medal Decoration awarded in 1992 Canadian Forces' Decoration (CD) with two Clasp for 32 years of services George VI version Order of Merit of the Italian Republic Decoration awarded 31 August 1973 2nd Class / Grand Officer level Italian award
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