Andrew Collier

Vice Admiral Andrew Laurence Collier was a Canadian Forces officer who served as Commander Maritime Command from 14 June 1977 to 30 June 1979.

Early years

Collier was born in Kamloops and raised in Salmon Arm, where his family was prominent in the grocery business.

Collier joined the Royal Canadian Navy in 1942 and completed his training in 1945. He became Commanding Officer of the destroyer in 1960, Captain Sea Training on the staff of the Flag Officer Atlantic Coast in 1962 and Director Naval Plans at the National Defence Headquarters in 1964. He went on to be Director International Plans in 1965, Commander Seventh Canadian Escort Squadron in 1966 and Deputy Chief of Staff Maritime Training in 1967. After that he became Deputy Chief of Staff in 1970, Commander Canadian Flotilla in 1972 and Senior Liaison Officer on the Defence Liaison Staff in Washington, D.C. in 1973. His last appointments were as Chief of Maritime Operations in 1974, Commander Maritime Forces Pacific in 1975 and Commander Maritime Command in 1977, in which role he argued for more ships, before retiring in 1979.

Collier's personal awards and decorations include the following:

Ribbon	Description	Notes
	Order of Military Merit	Appointed Commander on 20 June 1977
	Distinguished [Service Cross (United Kingdom)]	Citation for Distinguished Service Cross
	1939–1945 Star	WWII 1939-1945
	Atlantic Star	WWII 1939–1945 with France & Germany Clasp
	Canadian Volunteer [Service Medal]	WWII 1939–1945 with Overseas Service bar
	War Medal 1939–1945	WWII 1939-1945
	Korea Medal	1950-1953
	Canadian Volunteer Service Medal for Korea
	United Nations Service Medal Korea	1950-1954
	Canadian Centennial Medal	Decoration awarded in 1967
	Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal	Decoration awarded in 1977 Canadian version
	Canadian Forces' Decoration	with two Clasp for 32 years of services

He was appointed Commissioner of the Canadian Coast Guard in 1980 and served as president of the British Columbia Ferry Corporation 1984–1987. He died in Victoria.