Art McDonald (admiral)
Admiral Arthur Gerard McDonald, (born 1967) is a Royal Canadian Navy admiral who served as Chief of the Defence Staff of the Canadian Forces from January 14, 2021, until February 24, 2021, when he voluntarily stepped aside pending an investigation by the Canadian Forces National Investigation Service. McDonald previously served as Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy and Chief of the Naval Staff. He is Canada's first full admiral since Admiral John Anderson held the rank in 1993. Education. McDonald graduated from the Royal Military College of Canada (RMC) in 1990 with a bachelor’s degree  in military and strategic studies. He also holds a master's of defence studies degree from the same institution. McDonald is also a graduate of the 2003 Canadian Forces College (CFC) Command and Staff Course, the 2012 CFC National Security Studies Programme, and the 2014 U.S. General and Flag Officer Capstone Program at National Defense University in Washington D.C. A 2016 alumnus of the Asia-Pacific Centre for Security Studies, he is also a graduate of the Senior Executives in National and International Security program at Harvard University (2017). Career. In 2010, McDonald served as the Maritime Component Commander of  Canadian Joint Task Force Haiti. He received a Meritorious Service Medal in recognition of his coordination of the disaster relief activities of and . He served as commanding officer of HMCS "Halifax" from 2007 to 2009 before taking command of Fifth Maritime Operations Group in December 2009. McDonald was appointed Director General of Maritime Forces Development in February 2014, Commander of Maritime Forces Pacific in January 2016 and Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy in June 2019. On December 23, 2020, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that McDonald would succeed General Jonathan Vance as Chief of the Defence Staff, with the  change of command taking place on January 14, 2021. He received the Meritorious Service Medal on June 30, 2010, was awarded the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012 and was appointed a Commander of the Order of Military Merit (CMM) on October 4, 2018. Misconduct allegations. On February 24, 2021, Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan announced that McDonald had temporarily and voluntarily stepped aside as Chief of the Defence Staff amid investigations on allegations of misconduct. Pending the results of the investigation, General Wayne Eyre served as Acting Chief of Defence Staff. During this time, McDonald remained a serving officer  with the Canadian Armed Forces and retained his rank of full admiral. On October 15, 2021, McDonald sent a letter to generals and flag officers of the Canadian Armed Forces. In that letter, he argued why he should be reappointed as the Chief of the Defence Staff. This letter was described as "shocking" by General Eyre. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also criticized the timing and contents of the letter, and stated that victims of sexual misconduct must receive as much help as possible. On November 25, 2021, McDonald was formally relieved of his command as Chief of Defence Staff, with  Eyre being permanently appointed to the position.