Chief of the Defence Staff (Canada)

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Chief of the Defence Staff (Canada)

The Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS) is the second most senior member of the Canadian Forces

Canadian Forces

The Canadian Forces , officially the Canadian Armed Forces , are the unified armed forces of Canada, as constituted by the National Defence Act, which states: "The Canadian Forces are the armed forces of Her Majesty raised by Canada and consist of one Service called the Canadian Armed Forces." This singular institution consists of thre...
, after the Commander-in-Chief, who appoints the CDS and from whom the CDS receives his or her orders. In practice, the Commander-in-Chief the monarch of Canada, represented by the Governor General

Governor General of Canada

The Governor General of Canada is the viceroy representative in Canada of the Monarchy of Canada, who is the head of state. Canada is one of sixteen Commonwealth realms, all of which share the same person as their respective sovereign....
typically acts on the advice of his or her ministers

Minister of the Crown

Minister of the Crown is the formal constitutional term used in the Commonwealth realms to describe a Minister to the reigning sovereign. The term indicates that the minister serves in theory At Her Majesty's Pleasure, and advises the monarch, or viceroy, on how to exercise the Crown prerogatives relative to the minister's department or...
, meaning the CDS reports directly to the Minister of National Defence

Minister of National Defence (Canada)

The Minister of National Defence is a Minister of the Crown; the Canada politician within the Cabinet of Canada responsible for the Department of National Defence which oversees the Canadian Forces....
. The CDS has been the second highest rank in the Canadian Forces since the unification in 1968 of the Canadian Army, Royal Canadian Navy

Royal Canadian Navy

The Royal Canadian Navy was the navy of Canada from 1911 until 1968 when the three Canadian services were unified to form the Canadian Forces. The modern Canadian navy is known as Canadian Forces Maritime Command ....
, and Royal Canadian Air Force

Royal Canadian Air Force

The Royal Canadian Air Force was the air force of Canada from 1924 until 1968 when the three branches of the Canadian military were merged into the Canadian Forces....
.

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Encyclopedia

The Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS) is the second most senior member of the Canadian Forces

Canadian Forces

Governor General of Canada

Minister of the Crown

Minister of National Defence (Canada)

Royal Canadian Navy

Royal Canadian Air Force

The Royal Canadian Air Force was the air force of Canada from 1924 until 1968 when the three branches of the Canadian military were merged into the Canadian Forces....
. Prior to that date, a similar position existed in the Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff

Chiefs of Staff (Canada)

The Chiefs of Staff committee was a collection of the heads of each military service in Canada prior to the beginning of Canadian Forces#Modern reorganization: the Royal Canadian Navy, the Canadian Army and the Royal Canadian Air Force....
.

Since 2008, the Chief of the Defence Staff has been General

General (Canada)

The rank of General in Canada is typically held by only one officer whose position is Chief of the Defence Staff and the senior uniformed officer of the Canadian Forces....
Walter Natynczyk

Walter Natynczyk

General Walter J. Natynczyk, Order of Military Merit , Meritorious Service Cross, Canadian Forces Decoration is the Chief of the Defence Staff of the Canadian Forces....
, who took over from General Rick Hillier

Rick Hillier

General Rick Hillier, Order of Military Merit , Meritorious Service Decoration , Canadian Forces Decoration , is the former Chief of the Defence Staff of the Canadian Forces....
on 2 July. The CDS is also ex-officio the Principal Commander of the Order of Military Merit

Order of Military Merit (Canada)

The Order of Military Merit is a military decoration of Canada that is accorded to members of the Canadian Forces who have demonstrated dedication and devotion beyond the call of duty....
.

Chiefs of the Defence Staff

Rank and name	Year	Branch	Appointed by
Air Chief Marshal Air Chief Marshal Air Chief Marshal is a senior air officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force . The rank is also used by the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence and it is sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank in countries which have a non-English air force-speci... Frank Robert Miller Frank Robert Miller Air Chief Marshal Frank Robert Miller, Order of Canada, Order of the British Empire, Canadian Forces Decoration was a Canada airman, the last Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff in 1964, the first Chief of the Defence Staff from 1964 until 1966, and Deputy Minister of Department of National Defence ....	1964 1966	Royal Canadian Air Force Royal Canadian Air Force The Royal Canadian Air Force was the air force of Canada from 1924 until 1968 when the three branches of the Canadian military were merged into the Canadian Forces....	Georges Vanier Georges Vanier Major-General Georges-Phil?as Vanier, Distinguished Service Order, Military Cross, Canadian Forces Decoration was a Canada soldier and diplomat who was Governor General of Canada from 1959 until his death....
General General (Canada) The rank of General in Canada is typically held by only one officer whose position is Chief of the Defence Staff and the senior uniformed officer of the Canadian Forces.... Jean-Victor Allard Jean Victor Allard Canadian Forces ranks and insignia Jean Victor Allard, Order of Canada, Order of the British Empire, National Order of Quebec, Distinguished Service Order, Canadian Efficiency Decoration, Canadian Forces Decoration was the first French-Canadian to become Chief of the Defence Staff, the highest position in the Canadian Forces from 1966?1969....	1966 1969	Canadian Army	Georges Vanier
General Frederick Ralph Sharp Frederick Ralph Sharp General Frederick Ralph Sharp, Order of Military Merit , Distinguished Flying Cross , Canadian Forces Decoration was a former Chief of Defence Staff for the Canadian Forces....	1969 1972	Air Command Canadian Forces Air Command Canadian Forces Air Command , also known as the Canadian Air Force, is the air force element of the Canadian Forces. AIRCOM is the descendant of the Royal Canadian Air Force , which was Canada's air force from its foundation in 1924 until February 1, 1968....	Roland Michener Roland Michener Daniel Roland Michener, Queen's Privy Council for Canada, Order of Canada, Order of Military Merit , Canadian Forces Decoration, Queen's Counsel was a Canadian lawyer, politician, and diplomat....
General Jacques Alfred Dextraze	1972 1977	Land Force Command Canadian Forces Land Force Command Land Force Command , often also called the Canada Army, is responsible for army operations within the Canadian Forces.The current size of Land Force Command is 19,500 regular soldiers and 16,000 reserve soldiers, for a total of around 35,500 soldiers....	Roland Michener
Admiral Admiral Admiral is the military rank, or part of the name of the ranks, of the highest naval officers. It is usually considered a full admiral and above Vice Admiral and below Admiral of the Fleet/Fleet Admiral.... Robert Hilborn Falls Robert Hilborn Falls Admiral Robert Hilborn Falls, Order of Military Merit , Canadian Forces Decoration was Chief of Defence Staff of the Canadian Forces from 1977 to 1980....	1977 1980	Maritime Command Canadian Forces Maritime Command Canadian Forces Maritime Command , also known as the Canadian Navy, is the navy of the Canadian Forces. While equal in rank and position, The Chief of the Maritime Staff takes precedence over the Chiefs of the Land and Air Staffs following the tradition of the Royal Navy....	Jules Léger Jules Léger Jules L?ger, Queen's Privy Council for Canada, Order of Canada was the Governor General of Canada ....
General Ramsey Muir Withers Ramsey Muir Withers Ramsey Muir Withers, Order of Military Merit , Canadian Forces Decoration is a past Chief of the Defence Staff , the highest ranking position in the Canadian Forces 1980?1983....	1980 1983	Land Force Command	Edward Schreyer Edward Schreyer Edward Richard Schreyer is a Canadian politician and statesman who, until 14 May 1984, served as the Governor General of Canada. He was appointed as such by Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, Monarchy of Canada, on the recommendation of then Prime Minister of Canada Pierre Trudeau, to replace Jules L?ger as viceroy....
General Gérard Charles Édouard Thériault Gérard Charles Édouard Thériault General G?rard Charles ?douard Th?riault, Order of Military Merit , Canadian Forces Decoration was Chief of the Defence Staff between 1983 and 1986....	1983 1986	Air Command	Edward Schreyer
General Paul David Manson Paul David Manson Paul David Manson, Order of Canada, Order of Military Merit , Canadian Forces Decoration is a retired Canada general, fighter pilot, and businessman....	1986 1989	Air Command	Jeanne Sauvé Jeanne Sauvé Jeanne Mathilde Sauv? was a Canadian politician and stateswoman who, until 29 January 1990, served as the Governor General of Canada. She was appointed as such by Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, Monarchy of Canada, on the recommendation of then Prime Minister of Canada Pierre Trudeau, to replace Edward Schreyer as viceroy ....
General John de Chastelain John de Chastelain Alfred John Gardyne Drummond de Chastelain, Order of Canada, Order of the Companions of Honour, Order of Military Merit , Canadian Forces Decoration is a retired Canada soldier and diplomat....	1989 1993	Land Force Command	Jeanne Sauvé
Admiral John Rogers Anderson John Rogers Anderson John Rogers Anderson, Order of Military Merit , Canadian Forces Decoration is a Canada retired Admiral and civil servant.Anderson was born in BC and attended UBC and graduated with a BSc and attended a Long Operations Officers course....	1993	Maritime Command	Ray Hnatyshyn Ray Hnatyshyn Ramon John Hnatyshyn , commonly known as Ray Hnatyshyn , was a Canadian politician and statesman who, until 8 February 1995, served as the Governor General of Canada....
General John de Chastelain	1994 1995	Land Force Command	Ray Hnatyshyn
General Joseph Édouard Jean Boyle	1996	Air Command	Roméo LeBlanc Roméo LeBlanc Rom?o-Adrien LeBlanc is a Canadian politician and statesman who, until 8 October 1999, served as the Governor General of Canada. He was appointed as such by Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, Monarchy of Canada, on the recommendation of then Prime Minister of Canada Jean Chr?tien, to replace Ray Hnatyshyn as viceroy....
Vice-Admiral Larry Murray Larry Murray Vice Admiral Larry Murray, Order of Military Merit , Canadian Forces Decoration is a Canada civil servant, retired Vice Admiral and former acting Chief of the Defence Staff ....	(Acting) 1996 1997	Maritime Command	Roméo LeBlanc
General Maurice Baril Maurice Baril Joseph G?rard Maurice Baril, Order of Military Merit , Canadian Forces Decoration is a former General in the Canadian Forces, a Military Advisor to the United Nations Secretary-General & head of the Military Division of the Department of Peacekeeping Operations of the United Nations from 1992 to 1997, and Chief of the Defence Staff in Canad...	1997 2001	Land Force Command	Roméo LeBlanc
General Raymond Henault	2001 2005	Air Command	Adrienne Clarkson Adrienne Clarkson Adrienne Louise Clarkson is a Canadian journalist and stateswoman who, until 27 September 2005, served as the Governor General of Canada. She was appointed as such by Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, Monarchy of Canada, on the recommendation of then Prime Minister of Canada Jean Chr?tien, to replace Rom?o LeBlanc as viceroy....
General Rick Hillier Rick Hillier General Rick Hillier, Order of Military Merit , Meritorious Service Decoration , Canadian Forces Decoration , is the former Chief of the Defence Staff of the Canadian Forces....	2005 2008	Land Force Command	Adrienne Clarkson
General Walter Natynczyk Walter Natynczyk General Walter J. Natynczyk, Order of Military Merit , Meritorious Service Cross, Canadian Forces Decoration is the Chief of the Defence Staff of the Canadian Forces....	2008 present	Land Force Command	Michaëlle Jean Michaëlle Jean Micha?lle Jean is the current Governor General of Canada of Canada. She was appointed as such by Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, Monarchy of Canada, on the recommendation of then Prime Minister of Canada Paul Martin, to replace Adrienne Clarkson as viceroy....

Honours

The Chief of the Defence Staff Commendation is a Canadian Forces honour to recognize a deed or activity above and beyond the demands of normal duty.

Chief of the Defence Staff (Canada)

Chiefs of the Defence Staff

Honours

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