Chief of the Defence Staff (Canada)

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The Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS) (French: le Chef d'état-major de la défense) is the second most senior member of the Canadian Forces, after the Commander-in-Chief, who appoints the CDS and from whom the CDS receives his or her orders.^[1] In practice, the Commander-in-Chief – the monarch of Canada, represented by the Governor General – typically acts on the advice of his or her ministers, meaning the CDS reports directly to the Minister of National Defence.^[1]

The Chief of the Defence Staff has primary responsibility for command, control and administration of the Canadian Forces and military strategy, plans and requirements.^[1] The CDS has been the second highest rank in the Canadian Forces since the unification in 1964 of the Canadian Army, Royal Canadian Navy, and Royal Canadian Air Force.^[2] Prior to that date, a similar position existed in the Chief of the General Staff.^[2] The CDS is also ex-officio the Principal Commander of the Order of Military Merit.^[3] The Chief of the Defence Staff Commendation (French: Mention élogieuse du Chef d'état-major de la Défense) is awarded by the Chief of the Defence Staff to recognize deeds or activities beyond the demand of normal duty.^[4] In 2007 seventy seven awards of the Chief of the Defence Staff Commendation were announced.^[4]

The CDS has been charged with four main priorities, each of which has multiple points. These priorities are to conduct operations, to grow the regular and reserve forces to meet international and domestic commitments, to implement the government's "Canada First" defence strategy, and to enhance program delivery and optimize resource utilization.^[5] Under the conduct operations priority, the CDS must do the following three things, "succeed with operations at home and abroad as part of a whole of government approach", "enhance force protection through fostering a culture of risk management while shaping the environment with enablers", and "sustain the Generation of Operational Forces to meet international and domestic commitments".^[5] Under the grow the forces priority, the CDS is charged with making sure the "Canadian Forces Recruiting Group is changing its organizational structure and streamlining its recruiting, processing and management processes to ensure that its resources are applied more effectively", and "to bring critical military occupations up to strength".^[5] As part of the third point, the Chief of the Defence Staff must "move ahead with capital acquisition projects for a multi-role, combat-capable military, including the Joint Support Ship, tactical and strategic lift aircraft, medium- to heavy-lift helicopters, and logistics trucks" and "strengthen key multilateral and bilateral organization relationships through active participation within the United Nations, NATO and the North American Aerospace Defence Command."^[5] Finally, with the fourth and final priority, the Chief of the Defence Staff must "implement resource acquisition reform to realize reductions in project expenditure authority cycles, increased capacity to pursue projects and accelerated procurement cycles."^[5]

General John de Chastelain was the only foreign born Chief of the Defence Staff.^[6] All other former and current CDS' were born in Ontario,^{[7][8][9][10]} Quebec,^{[11][12][13][14]}, Manitoba,^[15][16] Saskatchewan,^[17] or British Columbia.^[18][19][20]

General Walter Natynczyk is the first person of non-British or non-French descent to hold the position of Chief of the Defence Staff.^[21] Air Chief Marshal Miller was of British descent, as were General's Sharp and Murray.^[18] General Allard is of French descent^[11] as was Gérard Thériault,^[13] Maurice Baril, and Joseph Boyle.^[9] General Dextraze was descended from a British mother, but he was raised in French.^[12] Also of British descent was Anderson, Manson, and John de Chastelain, who was born a British subject in Romania.^[6] Withers was born from Scottish immigrant parents. General Henault was born a French descendent and General Hillier was born of English descent.

Contents 1 Chiefs of Defence Staff by time of appointment 1.1 1960s – 1970s 1.2 1980s – 1990s 1.3 2000s – Present 2 Notes

[edit] Chiefs of Defence Staff by time of appointment

[edit] 1960s – 1970s

Rank and name	Year	Branch	Place of birth	Appointed by	Notes
Air Chief Marshal[22] Frank Robert Miller	1964–1966	Royal Canadian Air Force	British Columbia	Georges Vanier	[18]
General Jean-Victor Allard	1966–1969	Canadian Army	Quebec	Georges Vanier	[11]
General Frederick Ralph Sharp	1969–1972	Air Command	Saskatchewan	Roland Michener	[17]
General Jacques Alfred Dextraze	1972–1977	Land Force Command	Quebec	Jules Léger	[12]
Admiral Robert Hilborn Falls	1977–1980	Maritime Command	Ontario	Jules Léger	[7]

[edit] 1980s – 1990s

Rank and name	Year	Branch	Place of birth	Appointed by	Notes
General Ramsey Muir Withers	1980–1983	Land Force Command	Ontario	Edward Schreyer	[8]
General Gérard Charles Édouard Thériault	1983–1986	Air Command	Quebec	Edward Schreyer	[13]
General Paul David Manson	1986–1989	Air Command	British Columbia	Jeanne Sauvé	[19]
General John de Chastelain	1989–1993	Land Force Command	Romania	Jeanne Sauvé	[23]
Admiral John Rogers Anderson	1993	Maritime Command	British Columbia	Ray Hnatyshyn	[20]
General John de Chastelain	1994–1995	Land Force Command	Romania	Ray Hnatyshyn	[23]
General Joseph Édouard Jean Boyle	1996	Air Command	Ontario	Roméo LeBlanc	[9]
Vice-Admiral Larry Murray	(Acting) 1996 – 1997	Maritime Command	Ontario	Roméo LeBlanc	[10]
General Maurice Baril	1997–2001	Land Force Command	Quebec	Roméo LeBlanc	[14]

[edit] 2000s – Present

Rank and name	Year	Branch	Place of birth	Appointed by	Notes
General Raymond Henault	2001–2005	Air Command	Manitoba	Adrienne Clarkson	[15]
General Rick Hillier	2005–2008	Land Force Command	Newfoundland and Labrador	Adrienne Clarkson	[24]
General Walter Natynczyk	2008–present	Land Force Command	Manitoba	Michaëlle Jean	[16]

[edit] Notes

v • d • e   Canadian Forces Commander-in-Chief • Chief of the Defence Staff • Armed Forces Council Canada Command • Canadian Expeditionary Force Command • Canadian Operational Support Command • Joint Task Force North • Reserve Force Maritime Command • Land Force Command • Air Command