BIO - Susan Pickrell

Regional Supervisor Marine SAR
Joint Rescue Coordination Centre - Victoria

Susan Pickrell received a Bachelor of Nautical Sciences from the University of Cape Breton and has a Master, Near Coastal Canadian Certificate of Competency.

Susan graduated from the four year Navigation Program at the CCG College in 1990. From 1990 to 1994 she served as Third Officer up to Chief Officer on the CCG Ships George R. Pearkes, Martha L. Black and the Sir James Douglas.

From 1994 to 1996 Susan worked as the First Officer on board the CCG Cutter Point Henry in Prince Rupert, BC. In 1996 she was employed as the Commanding Officer of the cutter Kitimat II which was used as a SAR vessel in northern BC, specifically operating the vessel during the Herring Roe opening. Later in 1996 Susan began work at the Sea Island Island Hovercraft Base. In 2002 she was promoted to the rank of Captain. During her tenure as Captain at Sea Island she responded to numerous high profile and complex SAR incidents including the fishing vessel Cap Rouge II, fishing vessel Pacific Charmer, sailing vessel Benedicte, Seair Floatplane and the sailing vessel Incisor. Susan remained at Sea Island until 2010 when she assumed the position of Supervisor Marine Search and Rescue at the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre in Victoria.

She accompanied the Canadian Delegation to the North Pacific Coast Guard Forum in Seattle and San Francisco and she has been recognized for a 911 Award nomination as CG Employee of the Year. She has also been very committed to the Critical Incident Stress Management Team for many years. In 2010 Susan was awarded the Governor General’s Coast Guard Exemplary Service Medal. In 2011 she was awarded a CCG Distinction award and a 911 Award for a dramatic rescue during the Good Friday storm in 2010.

Susan is married, has three children and happily resides in the Victoria area. She and her family very much enjoy the British Columba coast and spend as much time as possible exploring it on their sail boat.