Career Path
1975 – 1978 Radio Inspector, Toronto
District Office, DOC
1978 – 1980 Frequency Selection and EMC
Specialist, Toronto District Office, DOC
1980 – 1983 Supervisor Authorization, Ottawa
District Office, DOC
1983 – 1984 Chief of Spectrum Control, Spectrum
Management Operations, DOC HQ
1984 – 1989 Chief of Authorization, Spectrum
Management Operations, DOC HQ
1989 – 1994 Manager Terrestrial Services,
Spectrum Management Operations, DOC HQ
1994 – 1995 Senior Technical Analyst,
Information Highway Advisory Council, IC Ottawa
1995 – 1998 Manager Wireless Networks, Spectrum
Management Operations, IC HQ
1998 – 2001 Manager Wireless Business
Development, Lucent Technologies, Ottawa
2001 – 2004 Wireless Telecommunications
Consultant, Ottawa
2004 – 2018 Senior Policy Advisor -
Wireless Services, Telecommunications Policy Branch
Summary
In late 1974 Glen
Worsnop, DOC District Manager in Kitchener, along with counterparts
from the Department of Transport and the Public Service Commission came to
Cambrian College in Sudbury to interview third year electronic technology
students for positions as Radio Inspector trainees in the Ontario Region. It
was a period of rapid expansion for the DOC and there followed several years
of active college recruitment for “TIRLS”, a term used in the government’s
contract with IBEW, the union representing members of the Electronics Group,
denoting employees hired at the Technical Institute Recruitment Level. TIRLs
essentially underfilled the working level EL-04 Radio Inspector positions
during a well-defined and structured training program. As a result of the
interview at Cambrian Pat Carrey
received a job offer and upon graduation he moved to Toronto to work in the
Toronto District Office (TDO) under supervisor
John Nosotti.
Like the other TIRLs Pat
followed a training program designed to move one along a progression through
the levels EL-1, 2 and 3 to the “working level” Radio Inspector EL-4. He
accompanied Radio Inspectors “on the road” doing inspections and
interference work, spent time in authorization learning licensing, learned
monitoring in the Spectrum Observation Centre (SOC) and at the Almonte
Monitoring Station. See also the “Pounding Brass” anecdote on
Mike Connolly’s page: (click
here to see anecdote). He came to be a Frequency Selection and EMC Specialist while in TDO.
In 1980 Pat was
appointed Supervisor, Authorization in the Ottawa District Office with
Hubert Pambrun as Manager and from
there he moved to DOC Headquarters as Chief of Spectrum Control in the
Spectrum Management Operations Directorate (DOS) headed by
Maurice Nunas.
He also worked as Chief of Authorization in the same directorate and then
Manager of Terrestrial Services starting in 1989.
Around this time Mike
Connolly was Director GTA, Ontario Region and had occasion to
describe to Pat the emerging concept of
Electronic Data Interchange (EDI). EDI referred to the computer-to-computer
exchange of business documents in a standard electronic format between
business partners. EDI was of interest because it permitted a transition
from a paper-based exchange of business documents to one that is electronic,
where organizations would enjoy major benefits such as reduced cost,
increased processing speed, reduced errors and improved relationships with
partners. Pat immediately recognized the
potential that EDI offered to bring efficiencies to the exchange of radio
systems information in the cross-border coordination process with the four
US agencies involved (FCC, NTIA, FAA and the Joint Chiefs
of Staff). Pat
set about promoting the idea and with a team of subject experts from his and
other directorates they were able to implement it over a two year period.
(See: CANCOORD and USCOORD)
Later in 1994 just after
Mike Connolly had become Director,
Spectrum Management Operations Mike
suggested to Pat
that he propose the Common Coordination Data Format project as a candidate
for a Distinction Award as part of Technology in Government week. It was a
proud moment in October 1994 when Pat,
representing the entire development and implementation team, received a
Bronze Award at the Gala from the Honourable Art
Eggleton, President of the Treasury Board, in the category
Building Partnerships.
Receiving the Bronze Distinction Award at the Awards
Gala for Technology in Government Week. Treasury Board President
Art Eggleton, far left,
Pat Carrey far right. October 24, 1994.
Also in 1994 Pat
was seconded for several months to the Information Highway Secretariat as a
Senior Technical Analyst but he returned to the Spectrum Management
Operation Directorate in 1995 just in time to contribute to the landmark PCS
comparative licensing process wherein Minister
John Manley licensed
new entrants Clearnet and Microcell. As such Pat
was amongst the recipients of a Deputy Minister Merit Award for excellence
from Industry Canada Deputy Minister Kevin
Lynch.
Spectrum Management Operation Directorate recipients
of a Deputy Minister Merit Award for the PCS Comparative Selection and
Licensing Process held in 1995. L-R Peter Hill,
Mike Connolly, Diane Gilbert, Pat Carrey,
David Bosquet.
Pat stayed in DOS
until 1998 as Manager, Wireless Networks where he also was responsible for
the conduct of the Local Multi-point Communications Services (LMCS)
comparative licensing process.
In 1998 Pat made a
bold career move by leaving the Federal Public Service to join Lucent
Technologies as Manager of Wireless Business Development. He remained based
in Ottawa and he was in frequent contact with various spectrum management
staff throughout our sector as well as being active in the Radio Advisory
Board of Canada and the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association.
While at Lucent Pat received the
Achievers Club Award in 2000 for his contributions to the wireless sales
team.
In 2001 with the demise of Lucent
Pat transitioned to being an independent wireless
telecommunications consultant. He worked on a variety of projects in a
variety of places worldwide including Nepal, Niger, Jamaica, Cyprus,
Thailand, St. Lucia and Gabon thus sharing his expertise with other
administrations in need.
Pat returned to
Industry Canada in 2004 joining the Telecommunication Policy Branch in the
Spectrum and Radio Policy Directorate (DSRS) as Senior Policy Advisor -
Wireless Services. Here he worked on difficult and high profile files such
as the conversion of the 2500 MHz band from fixed to mobile and the
formulation of the Advanced Wireless Services policy for the auction of
2008.
Over the course of his career,
Pat made a lasting impact on the spectrum program through his
own staffing efforts. He hired many into DOS from across the country,
coaching them and providing opportunities for them to grow thereby
positioning the directorate and the program for future challenges. He was a
great communicator and was often tagged with handling media inquiries or
formulating responses for senior staff and the Minister’s office.
Unfortunately a medical condition forced
Pat’s departure from work in 2012. He
remained on long term disability leave until his retirement from the Public
Service in 2018.
