Annua Ceremonial Review

Lieutenant - Commander 

Marie-Sonya Sowa, CD

Lieutenant-Commander (LCdr) Marie-Sonya Sowa enrolled in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) in 1998 and graduated from the Royal Military College of Canada with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. Upon graduation, she attended Dalhousie University and the Naval Engineering School in Halifax, Nova Scotia, where she completed her engineering certifications.

She progressed her training as a Naval Combat Systems Engineer, sailing in various ships, including a NATO task group deployment. In between her studies and sailing, she was fortunate to qualify as a Ship’s Team Diving Officer — a career highlight that delivered many notable opportunities.

She then transferred to the West Coast, sailing in His Majesty’s Canadian Ships (HMCS) Ottawa, Calgary, and Vancouver, where she obtained her Head of Department qualification. Highlights included firing each weapon system on board (some of them for the first time), participating in numerous international exercises, and, most importantly, meeting some exceptional sailors.

In 2007, she returned to Ontario and became the Detachment Commander for the Canadian Forces Recruiting Centre Hamilton. She was delighted to introduce applicants to a career in the CAF. She remained in this position until her transfer to the Naval Reserves in 2012, where she elected to serve part-time in various roles, seeking stability for her family.

In 2017, she accepted a full-time contract as Training Officer and was then appointed Executive Officer. In June 2020, she was honoured with command of HMCS Star and was appointed Honorary Commanding Officer of HMCS Haida, our Royal Canadian Navy flagship. During her command, HMCS Star achieved the Commodore’s Cup for being the top Naval Reserve Division in Canada. Subsequently, she led the Central Region as the Public Affairs Senior Staff Officer while simultaneously progressing her naval career, completing the demanding Joint Command and Staff Program at the Canadian Forces College in Toronto.

Currently, she serves as a Senior Staff Officer within Strategic Outreach, specifically overseeing the Honorary Captain and Ship Sponsor appointments and programming.

LCdr Sowa is blessed with an encouraging husband, and together they have three wonderful children.