The body of a Canadian Armed Forces member was discovered in a residential housing unit at CFB Esquimalt on Tuesday morning.
The body of Chief Petty Officer Second Class Gilles Duquette, 54, a 29-year veteran member most recently with the Administration section at CFB Esquimalt, was found by Military Police after he failed to report to duty.
"The cause of death will be determined by the BC Coroner's office," said Capt. Jenn Jackson, public affairs officer. "The sudden loss of any CAF member is devastating to the military community and our condolences go out to his family and friends."
Duquette served on-board HMCS Kootenay, Annapolis, Vancouver, Huron, Calgary, Ottawa, and Winnipeg in the course of his career.
He was also deployed to Syria in 1989 on a United Nations' mission and Bahrain with HMCS Vancouver as part of Task Force South-West Asia in 2002.
The Canadian Forces National Investigation Services will be conducting an investigation, Jackson said.