# Chief of the Defence Staff (Canada)

The chief of the Defence Staff (CDS; French: chef d'état-major de la Défense; CEMD) is the professional head of the Canadian Armed Forces. As the senior military position, the chief of the Defence Staff advises the Cabinet, particularly the minister of national defence and the prime minister. The role is a Crown-in-Council appointment made on the advice of the prime minister.

## History

Until 1964, there existed a chief of the Naval Staff, as head of the Royal Canadian Navy; a chief of the General Staff, as head of the Canadian Army; and a chief of the Air Staff, as head of the Royal Canadian Air Force. A position known as the Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee existed from 1951 to 1964, which had a loose coordination function, although it lacked the command and control responsibilities of the later position of chief of the Defence Staff (CDS). Only two officers served in the role in its 13-year history:General Charles Foulkes (1951–1960) and Air Chief Marshal Frank Robert Miller (1960–1964).
The position of chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee and the positions of the three service chiefs were abolished in 1964 and replaced by the position of CDS. This change was based on a white paper initiated by National Defence Minister Paul Hellyer in the Cabinet of Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson. Following the tabling of the white paper, the minister introduced legislation that took effect in August 1964. The newly established chief of the Defence Staff was to "head all of Canada's military forces, backed by a defence headquarters that was integrated and restructured to reflect six so-called functional commands, replacing eleven former service commands. Functional described a command that was non-geographic and beyond any particular service or traditional arm." In May 1967, Bill C-243 was passed by parliament and was effective as of 1 February 1968. The law dissolved the three armed services and created the Canadian Armed Forces under the command of the CDS. In 2011, the three functional commands—named Maritime Command, Land Force Command, and Air Command—had their original names reinstated, becoming once again the Royal Canadian Navy, Canadian Army, and Royal Canadian Air Force, respectively.

## Rank and command

The chief of the Defence Staff (CDS) follows in rank only the commander-in-chief of the Canadian Armed Forces, who is the Canadian monarch represented by the governor general. The National Defence Act gives the authority to appoint the CDS to the Governor-in-Council; effectively, the governor general acting on the constitutional advice of his or her ministers of the Crown. The commander-in-chief is the person from whom the CDS receives his or her orders. However, according to the tenets of constitutional monarchy and responsible government, the monarch and viceroy almost always follow ministerial direction, meaning the CDS normally advises the prime minister and the rest of Cabinet directly on military matters.
The CDS has been charged with four main priorities, each having multiple sub-priorities: The first is to conduct operations, which includes the successful implementation of domestic and international operations, protection of the forces through a culture of risk management, and ensuring that recruitment is at a level required to sustain the operational forces at full potential to meet their commitments. Secondly, the CDS is expected to expand the regular and reserve forces to meet international and domestic obligations, which means the management of the Canadian Forces Recruiting Group so as to streamline the enlistment process of new forces members. The third task is to implement the national defence strategy as outlined by the King-in-Council, requiring both the acquisition of new equipment and the strengthening of diplomatic relations via the United Nations, North Atlantic Treaty Organization, and North American Aerospace Defence Command." Lastly, the CDS must enhance the forces' programme delivery while optimising the use of resources.
The CDS is also the chair of the Canadian Forces Decorations Advisory Committee, which reviews and recommends to the governor general members of the forces eligible to receive decorations for valour, bravery, and meritorious service, as well as Commander-in-Chief Unit Commendations. This committee mirrors that for the Order of Military Merit, of which the CDS is ex-officio a member and the Principal Commander.
Separately, the CDS presents the Chief of the Defence Staff Commendation (French: Mention élogieuse du Chef d'état-major de la Défense) to recognize activity or service beyond regular expectations. It can be presented to members of the Canadian Forces, civilian members of the Defence Team (in an overseas operation), and members of an allied foreign military (whose actions benefited Canada). The insignia for wear has the form of a gold bar bearing three gold maple leaves and the award comes with a scroll bearing the citation. The CDS also awards the Canadian Forces Medallion for Distinguished Service, which is given by the CDS on behalf of the entire forces.

### Distinguishing flag

The chief of the Defence Staff is entitled to fly the Canadian Armed Forces ensign, a white flag bearing the Canadian flag in the canton and defaced by the badge of the Canadian Forces, as their distinguishing flag.

## Chiefs of the Defence Staff

| No. | Name | Took office | Left office | Time in office | Home province | Defence branch | Appointed by | Prime minister |
| 1 | Miller, Frank RobertAir Chief Marshal Frank Robert Miller (1908–1997) | 1 August 1964 | 14 July 1966 | 1 year, 347 days | British Columbia | Royal Canadian Air Force | Vanier, GeorgesGeorges Vanier | Lester B. Pearson |
| 2 | Allard, Jean VictorGeneral Jean-Victor Allard (1913–1996) | 15 July 1966 | 14 September 1969 | 3 years, 61 days | Quebec | Canadian Army | Vanier, GeorgesGeorges Vanier | Lester B. Pearson |
| 3 | Sharp, Frederick RalphGeneral Frederick Ralph Sharp (1915–1992) | 15 September 1969 | 14 September 1972 | 2 years, 365 days | Saskatchewan | Air Command | Michener, RolandRoland Michener | Pierre Trudeau |
| 4 | Dextraze, Jacques AlfredGeneral Jacques Alfred Dextraze (1919–1993) | 15 September 1972 | 31 August 1977 | 4 years, 350 days | Quebec | Mobile Command | Léger, JulesJules Léger | Pierre Trudeau |
| 5 | Falls, Robert HilbornAdmiral Robert Hilborn Falls (1924–2009) | 15 September 1977 | 30 May 1980 | 2 years, 258 days | Ontario | Maritime Command | Léger, JulesJules Léger | Pierre Trudeau |
| 6 | Withers, Ramsey MuirGeneral Ramsey Muir Withers (1930–2014) | 31 May 1980 | 30 June 1983 | 3 years, 30 days | Ontario | Mobile Command | Schreyer, EdwardEdward Schreyer | Pierre Trudeau |
| 7 | Thériault, Gérard Charles ÉdouardGeneral Gérard Charles Édouard Thériault (1932–1998) | 1 July 1983 | 2 July 1986 | 3 years, 1 day | Quebec | Air Command | Schreyer, EdwardEdward Schreyer | Pierre Trudeau |
| 8 | Manson, Paul DavidGeneral Paul David Manson (1934–2023) | 11 July 1986 | 8 September 1989 | 3 years, 59 days | British Columbia | Air Command | Sauvé, JeanneJeanne Sauvé | Brian Mulroney |
| 9 | de Chastelain, JohnGeneral John de Chastelain (born 1937) | 8 September 1989 | 29 January 1993 | 3 years, 143 days | Alberta | Mobile Command | Sauvé, JeanneJeanne Sauvé | Brian Mulroney |
| 10 | Anderson, JohnAdmiral John Rogers Anderson (born 1941) | 29 January 1993 | 31 December 1993 | 336 days | British Columbia | Maritime Command | Hnatyshyn, RayRay Hnatyshyn | Brian Mulroney |
| 9 | de Chastelain, JohnGeneral John de Chastelain (born 1937) | 1 January 1994 | 31 December 1995 | 1 year, 364 days | Alberta | Land Force Command | Hnatyshyn, RayRay Hnatyshyn | Jean Chrétien |
| 11 | Boyle, Joseph Édouard JeanGeneral Joseph Édouard Jean Boyle (born 1947) | 1 January 1996 | 8 October 1996 | 281 days | Ontario | Air Command | LeBlanc, RoméoRoméo LeBlanc | Jean Chrétien |
| – | Murray, LarryVice-Admiral Larry Murray (born 1947) Acting | 8 October 1996 | 17 September 1997 | 344 days | Ontario | Maritime Command | LeBlanc, RoméoRoméo LeBlanc | Jean Chrétien |
| 12 | Baril, MauriceGeneral Maurice Baril (born 1943) | 17 September 1997 | 28 June 2001 | 3 years, 284 days | Quebec | Land Force Command | LeBlanc, RoméoRoméo LeBlanc | Jean Chrétien |
| 13 | Henault, RaymondGeneral Raymond Henault (born 1949) | 28 June 2001 | 17 June 2005 | 3 years, 354 days | Manitoba | Air Command | Clarkson, AdrienneAdrienne Clarkson | Jean Chrétien |
| 14 | Hillier, RickGeneral Rick Hillier (born 1955) | 17 June 2005 | 1 July 2008 | 3 years, 14 days | Newfoundland and Labrador | Land Force Command | Clarkson, AdrienneAdrienne Clarkson | Paul Martin Stephen Harper |
| 15 | Natynczyk, WalterGeneral Walter Natynczyk (born 1957) | 1 July 2008 | 29 October 2012 | 4 years, 120 days | Manitoba | Canadian Army | Jean, MichaëlleMichaëlle Jean | Stephen Harper |
| 16 | Lawson, Thomas J.General Thomas J. Lawson (born 1957) | 29 October 2012 | 17 July 2015 | 2 years, 261 days | Ontario | Royal Canadian Air Force | Johnston, DavidDavid Johnston | Stephen Harper |
| 17 | Vance, JonathanGeneral Jonathan Vance (born 1964) | 17 July 2015 | 14 January 2021 | 5 years, 181 days | Ontario | Canadian Army | Johnston, DavidDavid Johnston | Stephen Harper Justin Trudeau |
| 18 | McDonald, ArtAdmiral Art McDonald (born 1967) | 14 January 2021 | 24 February 2021 | 41 days | Nova Scotia | Royal Canadian Navy | Payette, JulieJulie Payette | Justin Trudeau |
| 19 | Eyre, WayneGeneral Wayne Eyre (born 1966 or 1967) | 25 February 2021 | 18 July 2024 | 3 years, 144 days | Saskatchewan | Canadian Army | Simon, MaryMary Simon | Justin Trudeau |
| 20 | Carignan, JennieGeneral Jennie Carignan (born 1968) | 18 July 2024 | Incumbent | 240 days | Quebec | Canadian Army | Simon, MaryMary Simon | Justin Trudeau |