Walter Natynczyk
| General (retired) Walter Natynczyk CMM MSC CD | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 9th Deputy Minister of Veterans Affairs | |
|
Assumed office November 3, 2014 | |
| Minister | |
| Preceded by | Mary Chaput |
| President of the Canadian Space Agency | |
|
In office 2013–2014 | |
| Minister | James Moore |
| Preceded by |
|
| 16th Chief of the Defence Staff | |
|
In office 2008–2012 | |
| Minister | Peter MacKay |
| Preceded by | Rick Hillier |
| Succeeded by | Thomas J. Lawson |
| 20th Vice Chief of the Defence Staff | |
|
In office 2006–2008 | |
| Commander | Rick Hillier |
| Preceded by | Ronald Buck |
| Succeeded by | Denis Rouleau |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
October 29, 1957 Winnipeg, Manitoba |
| Alma mater | |
| Awards | |
| Military service | |
| Service/branch | Canadian Army |
| Years of service | 1975–2012 |
| Rank | General |
| Battles/wars | |
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Walter Natynczyk. |
General Walter John "Walt" Natynczyk, CMM MSC CD[1] (pronounced /nəˈtɪn.t͡ʃək/, na-tin-chick)[2] is Deputy Minister of Veterans Affairs.[3] He was the President of the Canadian Space Agency and the former Chief of the Defence Staff of the Canadian Forces.
Early life
Both Polish-Canadian and German-Canadian, he was born to a family of European emigrants from war-ravaged Europe: Polish father (who was a soldier in Polish Army during World War II )[2] and German mother[2] on October 29, 1957 in Winnipeg, Manitoba,[4] where he grew up along with his two sisters, he worked as a Winnipeg Free Press paperboy and a hamburger flipper at a fast food establishment. Before joining the regular Canadian Army, Natynczyk spent five years in the Royal Canadian Air Cadets.[5]
Military career
Natynczyk joined the Canadian Forces in August 1975.[6] He attended Royal Roads Military College and Collège militaire royal de Saint-Jean, graduating in 1979 with a degree in Business Administration.[6] His formative years were spent on NATO duty in West Germany with The Royal Canadian Dragoons in troop command and staff appointments.[6]
In 1983, Natynczyk assumed duties as a Squadron Commander at the Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston, Ontario. In 1986, he commenced a five-year regimental tour in Petawawa, serving in several staff and squadron command appointments; this tour included six months of UN peacekeeping duties in Cyprus. On completion of Canadian Forces Command and Staff College, he served on the Army Staff in St. Hubert, Quebec.[6]
In May 1994, Natynczyk embarked upon a year-long tour with the United Nations in the former Yugoslavia as Sector South-West Chief of Operations in Bosnia and Herzegovina within HQ 7 (UK) Armoured Brigade, then as the Chief of Land Operations, UNPROFOR HQ in Zagreb, Croatia.[6] In June 1995, Natynczyk was assigned to the Vice Chief of the Defence Staff within National Defence HQ in Ottawa. He then commanded his regiment for two years, leading the Dragoons during domestic operations in the Ottawa region during the 1998 Ice Storm.[6] Natynczyk returned to Bosnia in 1998 as the Canadian Contingent Commander. On his return to Ottawa in March 1999, he was appointed J3 Plans and Operations during the period of deployments to Kosovo, Bosnia, East Timor and Eritrea.[6]
Natynczyk attended the U.S. Army War College, and was subsequently appointed Deputy Commanding General, III Corps and Fort Hood. In January 2004, he deployed with III Corps to Baghdad, Iraq, serving first as the Deputy Director of Strategy, Policy and Plans, and subsequently as the Deputy Commanding General of the Multi-National Corps (Iraq) during Operation Iraqi Freedom.[6] Natynczyk led the Corps' 35,000 soldiers, consisting of 10 separate brigades, stationed throughout the Iraq Theatre of Operations.[1][7] He was later awarded the Meritorious Service Cross specifically for his combat efforts in Operation Iraqi Freedom January 2004 to January 2005.[8]
Upon his return to Canada, he assumed command of the Land Force Doctrine and Training System. He was subsequently appointed Chief of Transformation, where he was responsible for implementation of the force restructuring and the enabling processes and policies.[6]
Natynczyk was promoted to lieutenant general (LGen), and assumed the responsibilities of the Vice Chief of Defence Staff on June 28, 2006.[6]
Chief of the Defence Staff
On June 6, 2008, Prime Minister Stephen Harper appointed Natynczyk as the next Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS), replacing retiring General Rick Hillier.[9] Natynczyk was promoted to general, and installed as CDS on July 2, 2008. General Natynczyk transferred his appointment at a change of command ceremony in 2012.
On February 16, 2012, in Washington, the U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Martin Dempsey, awarded the Legion of Merit (Degree of Commander) to Natynczyk.[10]
Retirement
Natynczyk retired in December 2012,[11] being replaced by incoming (to be promoted) Lieutenant General Tom Lawson.
Post-military career
On August 6, 2013, he was appointed president of the Canadian Space Agency by Prime Minister Stephen Harper.[12] He was appointed Deputy Minister of Veterans Affairs, effective November 3, 2014.[3]
References
- 1 2 Governor General announces awarding of Meritorious Service Decorations
- 1 2 3 Interview: Walter Natynczyk
- 1 2 "PM announces changes in the senior ranks of the Public Service".
- ↑ "Natynczyk took his job to heart, say friends". Retrieved August 22, 2013.
- ↑ The Quiet Canadian, Winnipeg Free Press, 16 June 2008, retrieved 24 November 2011
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Walter Natynczyk". NATO. Retrieved 10 January 2013.
- ↑ Sanders, Richard (2008-09-01). "September 2008: Canada's Real Role in Iraq". Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives. Retrieved 2009-01-11.
- ↑ "Governor General announces awarding of Meritorious Service Decorations". Governor General of Canada; Media release. Jan 24, 2006. Retrieved 2009-05-15.
MGen Natynczyk is recognized for his outstanding leadership and professionalism while deployed as Deputy Commanding General of the Multi-National Corps during Operation IRAQI FREEDOM. From January 2004 to January 2005, MGen Natynczyk led the Corps' 10 separate brigades, consisting of more than 35,000 soldiers stationed throughout the Iraq Theatre of Operations. He also oversaw planning and execution of all Corps level combat support and combat service support operations. His pivotal role in the development of numerous plans and operations resulted in a tremendous contribution by the Multi-National Corps to Operation Iraqi Freedom, and has brought great credit to the Canadian Forces and to Canada.
- ↑ Harper to name new top general: report, The Ottawa Citizen, June 6, 2008
- ↑ Embassy of the United States Ottawa, Canada (22 February 2012). "22 February 2012: Canadian General Natynczyk Receives Legion of Merit". Embassy of the United States Ottawa, Canada. Retrieved 7 September 2013.
- ↑ "In Conversation with... Gen. Walter Natynczyk". Retrieved 18 December 2012.
- ↑ "PM announces changes in the senior ranks of the Public Service". Retrieved 14 June 2013.
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Ronald Buck |
Vice Chief of the Defence Staff 2006–2008 |
Succeeded by Denis Rouleau |
| Preceded by Rick Hillier |
Chief of the Defence Staff 2008–2012 |
Succeeded by Thomas J. Lawson |