Vice Chief of the Defence Staff (Canada)
The Vice Chief of the Defence Staff (VCDS ; French : Vice-chef d’état-major de la Défense ) is the second most senior member of the Canadian Armed Forces , reporting to the Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS) as well as the Deputy Minister of National Defence . The Directorate General Executive Coordination, the Canadian Forces Provost Marshal , the National Cadet and Junior Canadian Rangers Support Group and several other departments report to the VCDS,[ 2] who is appointed by the CDS.[ 3]
Recent history
Vice-Admiral Mark Norman was temporarily relieved as VCDS on January 13, 2017, due to an ongoing investigation by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police .[ 4] As a temporary replacement, Vice-Admiral Ron Lloyd was appointed the duties of VCDS on an acting basis, and he was subsequently replaced by Lieutenant-General Alain Parent on May 30, 2017.[ 5]
On July 16, 2018, Lieutenant-General Paul Wynnyk was named Vice Chief of the Defence Staff.[ 6] On July 9, 2019, Wynnyk announced his retirement[ 7] after he claimed that the Chief of the Defence Staff, General Jonathan Vance , planned to replace him as Vice Chief of the Defence Staff with Vice-Admiral Mark Norman.[ 8] Wynnyk then alleged that these plans were reversed when Vice-Admiral Norman settled with the government and retired from the military. Wynnyk was the fifth Vice Chief to serve under Vance.[ 8]
On July 12, 2019, Lieutenant-General Jean-Marc Lanthier was appointed Vice Chief of the Defence Staff, effective July 18, 2019.[ 9] On March 16, 2020, it was announced that Lanthier was retiring in the summer, to be replaced by Lieutenant-General Michael Rouleau .[ 10]
In March 2021, it was announced that Rouleau would be succeeded by Lieutenant-General Frances J. Allen , the first woman to hold the position.[ 11] On June 28, 2021, she formally assumed the role of VCDS in a ceremony at National Defence Headquarters.[ 12]
Vice Chiefs of the Defence Staff
No.
Portrait
Name
Took office
Left office
Time in office
Home Province
Defence branch
Appointed by
Ref.
1 Walsh, Geoffrey Lieutenant-General Geoffrey Walsh (1909–1999) 1964 1965 0–1 years Ontario Canadian Army Miller, Frank Frank Miller [ 13]
2 Moncel, Robert Lieutenant-GeneralRobert Moncel (1917–2007) 1965 1966 0–1 years Quebec Canadian Army Miller, Frank Frank Miller [ 14]
3 Sharp, Frederick Lieutenant-GeneralFrederick Sharp (1915–1992) 1966 1969 2–3 years Saskatchewan Royal Canadian Air Force Allard, Jean Jean Allard [ 15]
4 Dare, Michael Lieutenant-GeneralMichael Dare (1917–1996) September 1969 1972 2–3 years Quebec Canadian Army Sharp, Frederick Frederick Sharp [ 15]
5 Hull, Chester Lieutenant-GeneralChester Hull (1919–2012) 1972 1974 1–2 years Ontario Royal Canadian Air Force Dextraze, Jacques Jacques Dextraze [ 16]
6 Falls, Robert Vice-Admiral Robert Falls (1924–2009) 1974 1977 2–3 years Ontario Royal Canadian Navy Dextraze, Jacques Jacques Dextraze [ 17]
7 Withers, Ramsey Lieutenant-GeneralRamsey Withers (1930–2014) 1977 1980 2–3 years Ontario Canadian Army Falls, Robert Robert Falls [ 18]
8 Thériault, Gérard Charles Édouard Lieutenant-GeneralGérard Charles Édouard Thériault (1932–1998) 1980 1983 2–3 years Quebec Royal Canadian Air Force Withers, Ramsey Ramsey Withers [ 19]
9 Mainguy, Daniel Vice-Admiral Daniel Mainguy (1930–2010) 1983 1985 1–2 years British Columbia Royal Canadian Navy Thériault, Gérard Gérard Charles Édouard Thériault [ 20]
10 Vance, Jack Lieutenant-GeneralJack Vance (1933–2013) 1985 1988 2–3 years Ontario Canadian Army Thériault, Gérard Gérard Charles Édouard Thériault [ 21]
11 Chastelain, John Lieutenant-GeneralJohn de Chastelain (born 1937) 1988 1989 0–1 years Romania Canadian Army Manson, Paul Paul Manson [ 22]
12 Thomas, Charles Vice-AdmiralCharles Thomas (born 1936) 1989 11 May 1991 1–2 years British Columbia Royal Canadian Navy Manson, Paul Paul Manson [ 23]
13 Sutherland, Fred Lieutenant-GeneralFred Sutherland (born 1942) 1991 1992 0–1 years Nova Scotia Royal Canadian Air Force Chastelain, John John de Chastelain [ 24]
14 Anderson, John Vice-AdmiralJohn Anderson (born 1941) 1992 1993 0–1 years British Columbia Royal Canadian Navy Chastelain, John John de Chastelain [ 25]
15 O'Donnell, Patrick Lieutenant-GeneralPatrick O'Donnell (1940–2015) 1993 1995 1–2 years Ontario Canadian Army Anderson, John John Anderson [ 26]
16 Murray, Larry Vice-AdmiralLarry Murray (born 1947) 1995 1997 1–2 years Ontario Royal Canadian Navy Chastelain, John John de Chastelain [ 27]
17 Garnett, Gary Vice-AdmiralGary Garnett 1997 2001 3–4 years British Columbia Royal Canadian Navy Baril, Maurice Maurice Baril [ 28]
18 Macdonald, George Lieutenant-GeneralGeorge Macdonald 2001 2004 2–3 years . Royal Canadian Air Force Henault, Ray Raymond Henault [ 29]
19 Buck, Ronald Vice-AdmiralRonald Buck 2004 2006 1–2 years Quebec Royal Canadian Navy Henault, Ray Raymond Henault [ 30]
20 Natynczyk, Walter Lieutenant-GeneralWalter Natynczyk (born 1957) 28 June 2006 15 June 2008 1 year, 353 days Manitoba Canadian Army Hillier, Rick Rick Hillier [ 31]
21 Rouleau, Denis Vice-AdmiralDenis Rouleau 15 June 2008 25 July 2010 2 years, 40 days Quebec Royal Canadian Navy Hillier, Rick Rick Hillier [ 32]
22 Donaldson, Bruce Vice-AdmiralBruce Donaldson 26 July 2010 11 September 2013 3 years, 47 days. Royal Canadian Navy Natynczyk, Walter Walter Natynczyk [ 33]
23 Thibault, Guy Lieutenant-GeneralGuy Thibault 11 September 2013 5 August 2016 2 years, 329 days Quebec Canadian Army Lawson, Thomas Thomas Lawson [ 34]
24 Norman, Mark Vice-AdmiralMark Norman (born 1964) 5 August 2016 13 January 2017 161 days Ontario Royal Canadian Navy Vance, Jonathan Jonathan Vance [ 35]
- Lloyd, Ron Vice-AdmiralRon Lloyd (born 1963) Acting 13 January 2017 30 May 2017 137 days. Royal Canadian Navy . .
- Parent, Alain Lieutenant-GeneralAlain Parent Acting 30 May 2017 16 July 2018 1 year, 47 days. Royal Canadian Air Force . .
25 Wynnyk, Paul Lieutenant-GeneralPaul Wynnyk (born 1964) 16 July 2018 9 July 2019 358 days Alberta Canadian Army Vance, Jonathan Jonathan Vance [ 6]
26 Lanthier, Jean-Marc Lieutenant-GeneralJean-Marc Lanthier 18 July 2019 15 July 2020 363 days. Canadian Army Vance, Jonathan Jonathan Vance [ 36]
27 Rouleau, Michael Lieutenant-GeneralMichael Rouleau (born 1967) 15 July 2020 14 June 2021 334 days. Canadian Special Operations Forces Command Vance, Jonathan Jonathan Vance [ 37]
28 Allen, Frances Lieutenant-GeneralFrances J. Allen 28 June 2021 1 August 2024 3 years, 120 days. Royal Canadian Air Force Eyre, Wayne Wayne Eyre (acting)[ 38] [ 12]
29 Kelsey, Stephen Lieutenant-GeneralStephen Kelsey 1 August 2024 Incumbent 86 days. Canadian Army Carignan, Jennie Jennie Carignan [ 1]
References
^ a b "Lieutenant-General Stephen Kelsey assumes the role of Vice Chief of the Defence Staff" . Government of Canada. 1 August 2024. Retrieved 1 August 2024 .
^ "VCDS - Organization" . Vcds.forces.gc.ca. Retrieved 2016-10-23 .
^ "National Defence Act" . Department of Justice . Retrieved 2012-05-08 .
^ "Updated – Vice Chief of the Defence Staff Mark Norman removed from command" . Ottawa Citizen . 2017-01-17. Retrieved 2017-06-08 .
^ Defence, Government of Canada, National. "National Defence | Canadian Armed Forces | Article | New A/VCDS to assume position May 30" . www.forces.gc.ca . Retrieved 2017-06-08 . {{cite web }}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link )
^ a b "New Commander for the Canadian Army: changes in the Canadian army command" . July 16, 2018. Retrieved July 16, 2018 .
^ Change to the senior ranks of the Canadian Armed Forces
^ a b "Vice-chief of defence staff resigns, citing plan Mark Norman was to replace him - National | Globalnews.ca" . globalnews.ca . July 9, 2019.
^ "Lanthier to become Vice Chief of the Defence Staff" . Canadian Army. July 12, 2019. Retrieved 21 July 2019 .
^ "Lt.-Gen. Mike Rouleau named Vice Chief of the Defence Staff" . Ottawa Citizen. 16 March 2020.
^ Brewster, Murray (March 9, 2021). "Canadian military gets its 1st female vice-chief of the defence staff in major shakeup" . CBC News . Retrieved March 9, 2021 .
^ a b "Lieutenant-General Allen assumes the role of the Vice Chief of the Defence Staff" . National Defence – Canadian Armed Forces . June 28, 2021. Retrieved June 30, 2021 .
^ "Army cadet league" (PDF) . Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-10-02. Retrieved 2012-05-09 .
^ Robert Moncel Generals.dk
^ a b DND Language Reform: Staffing the Bilingualism Programs 1967-1977
^ 427 Squadron Association
^ Admiral Robert Hilborn Falls CMM, CD
^ Ramsey Muir Withers
^ Gérard-Charles-Édouard Thériault The Canadian Encyclopedia
^ Vice-Admiral Daniel Nicholas Mainguy, CMM, CD, RCN (Retd)
^ Lieutenant-General J.E. "Jack" Vance, CMM, CD (Ret'd) Passes Archived October 2, 2013, at the Wayback Machine Royal Canadian Regiment
^ General John De Chastelain, OC, CMM, CD, CH, LL.D., BA Army Cadet History
^ Charles Thomas The Nauticapedia
^ 8 Wing / CFB Trenton to host leadership seminar The Contact, March 27, 2009
^ John Rogers Anderson The Nauticapedia
^ Patrick O'Donnell CFN Consultants
^ Parliament of Canada Evidence, October 29, 1996
^ Vice Admiral (Retired) Gary L. Garnett, CMM CD Senate Committee for National Security and Defence
^ "George E. C. Macdonald" (PDF) . Royal Canadian Air Force Association. Retrieved 8 August 2022 .
^ "Ron Buck, CMM, CD" (PDF) . Navy League of Canada . Retrieved 2013-02-27 .
^ "Walter Natynczyk" . NATO. Retrieved 10 January 2013 .
^ Rear-Admiral Denis Rouleau is Announced as Next Vice Chief of the Defence Staff for the Canadian Forces
^ Vice-Admiral Bruce Donaldson Assumes Role as Vice Chief of the Defence Staff
^ Lieutenant-General Guy Thibault assumes role as Vice Chief of the Defence Staff Archived October 2, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
^ Tasker, John Paul (19 January 2016). "Top ranks of Canadian Forces get shake-up with new army, navy commanders" . CBC News . Retrieved 20 January 2016 .
^ "Lt.-Gen. Lanthier named as new vice chief, more generals promoted" . Ottawa Citizen. 12 July 2019. Retrieved 18 July 2019 .
^ "Lt.-Gen. Lanthier named as new vice chief, more generals promoted" . Ottawa Citizen. 12 July 2019. Retrieved 18 July 2019 .
^ Brewster, Murray (March 9, 2021). "Canadian military gets its 1st female vice-chief of the defence staff in major shakeup" . CBC News . Retrieved March 9, 2021 .
External links