Chief of the Defence Staff ( Canada ) The Chief of the Defence Staff ( CDS ) ( ) is the second most senior member of the Canadian Forces and heads the Armed Forces Council , having primary responsibility for command , control , and administration of the forces , as well as military strategy , plans , and requirements . The position is held by a senior member of one of the three main branches of the Canadian Forces . The current CDS , since 29 October 2012 , is General Thomas J . Lawson . 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 , 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 ) . 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 Paul Hellyer , Minister of National Defence in the Cabinet headed by 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 February 1 , 1968 . The law dissolved the three armed services and created the Canadian 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 the Royal Canadian Navy , Canadian Army , and Royal Canadian Air Force , respectively . The heads of the three commands — the Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy , Commander of the Canadian Army , and Commander of the Royal Canadian Air Force — report to the CDS , rather than to the Minister of National Defence , as occurred prior to 1964 . Rank and command . The Chief of the Defence Staff follows in rank only the Commander - in - Chief of the Canadian Forces , who appoints the CDS and is the person from whom the CDS receives his or her orders . In practice , the commander - in - chief — the Canadian monarch , represented by the governor general — typically acts only on the advice of his or her ministers of the Crown , meaning the CDS normally reports directly to the Minister of National Defence . 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 Queen - 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 ( ) — in the form of a gold bar pin that bears three equilaterally spaced maple leaves — to recognise deeds or activities beyond the normal demands of duty , as well as the Canadian Forces Medallion for Distinguished Service , which is given by the CDS on behalf of the entire forces .