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 senior member of the Canadian Forces and reports directly to the Minister of National Defence. It has been the highest ranking position in the Canadian military since the unification of the Canadian Army, Royal Canadian Navy, and Royal Canadian Air Force in 1968. Prior to that, a similar position was held by the chairman of the Chiefs of Staff.
While the Canadian Monarch is Commander-in-Chief of the Canadian Forces – a role and title delegated to the Governor General since 1904 – and therefore formally the CDS's superior, in practice the CDS receives direction from the Minister of National Defence and the Prime Minister.
The Chief of the Defence Staff is also ex-officio the Principal Commander of the Order of Military Merit.
Since 2005, the CDS has been General Rick Hillier. He has announced that he will resign from the position on July 1, 2008.[1]
His replacement was named as Lt. Gen Walter Natynczyk on 06 June 2008.
[edit] Chiefs of the Defence Staff
- Air Chief Marshal[2] Frank Robert Miller 1964–1966 - RCAF
- General Jean-Victor Allard 1966–1969 - Canadian Army
- General Frederick Ralph Sharp 1969–1972 - RCAF
- General Jacques Alfred Dextraze 1972–1977 - Canadian Army
- Admiral Robert Hilborn Falls 1977–1980 - RCN
- General Ramsey Muir Withers 1980–1983 - Canadian Army
- General Gérard Charles Édouard Thériault 1983–1986 - RCAF
- General Paul David Manson 1986–1989 - RCAF
- General John de Chastelain 1989–1993 - Canadian Army
- Admiral John Rogers Anderson 1993 - RCN
- General John de Chastelain 1994–1995 - Canadian Army
- General Joseph Édouard Jean Boyle 1996 - RCAF
- Vice-Admiral Larry Murray (Acting) 1996–1997 - RCN
- General Maurice Baril 1997–2001 - Canadian Army
- General Raymond Henault 2001–2005 - Canadian Air Force
- General Rick Hillier 2005–July 1, 2008 - Canadian Army
- Lieutenant-General Walter Natynczyk July 1, 2008 - (Will be promoted to General)
[edit] References and notes
- ^ http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2008/04/15/hillier-resigning.html
- ^ This rank was used during the existence of the Royal Canadian Air Force and replaced with the rank of general in 1968 with the unification of the Canadian Forces. See Category:Canadian Forces Air Command generals for such officers. Miller was one of only two Canadian Air Chief Marshals, the other being Lloyd Samuel Breadner.
Lt.-Gen. Walter J. Natynczyk
