Originally from Quebec City, Cdr Gowigati joined the Army Reserve as an Infantryman in 1985 then transferred to the Regular Force as a Naval Warfare Officer in 1989.  He obtained a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry at Laval University in 1991 and proceeded to Esquimalt, BC to complete his Naval Officer Training.

Following Naval Officer Training, he served in HMCS Algonquin as a Bridge Watch keeper and was deployed to the Adriatic Sea for OP SHARP GUARD, enforcing a UN embargo against the Former Republic of Yugoslavia. He then specialized as an Underwater Warfare Officer and served in HMCS ATHABASKAN until 1996.

From 1999 to 2001, Cdr Gowigati served in France as Deck Officer onboard the French Navy frigate MONTCALM and was deployed for several French domestic and NATO operations. Upon his return to Canada, he completed the Operations Room Officer Course and served in HMCS VILLE DE QUEBEC and ATHABASKAN, respectively, as Combat Officer from 2002 to 2005.

Cdr Gowigati was posted to National Defence Headquarters (NDHQ) in 2007, where he worked for the Director Naval Requirements as an Underwater Warfare requirements specialist until 2010, and as part of the Canadian Surface Combatant Project Direction Team until 2014.

In 2015,Cdr Gowigati completed the Joint Command and Staff Program at the Canadian Forces College in Toronto and obtained a Master’s Degree in Defence Studies. He was promoted to his current rank in September 2017 and is now working for Director General Naval Force Development as the RCN’s Capital Program Coordinator.

Cdr Gowigati lives in Gatineau, with his wife, Marie-Josée, and their two children, Myriam and Frédéric.