Chief of the Defence Staff (Canada)

Chief of the Defence Staff Chef d'état-major de la défense
General Walter Natynczyk CMM MSC CD
The army epaulette for the rank of general
Type	Commissioned officer
Command	Her Majesty's Canadian Forces
Status	Currently constituted
Abbreviation	CDS
Precedence
Next (higher)	Commander-in-Chief
Next (lower)	Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff

The Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS) (French: Chef d'état-major de la défense) 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.

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.^[1] In practice, though, 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.^[1]

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 CDS.^[2]

In 1964, the position of Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee and the positions of the three service chiefs were abolished and replaced by the position of CDS. Since that time, 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.^[3] 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.^[3] 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."^[3] Lastly, the CDS must enhance the forces' programme delivery while optimising the use of resources.^[3]

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.^[4] This committee mirrors that for the Order of Military Merit, of which the CDS is ex-officio a member and the Principal Commander.^[5] Separately, the CDS presents the Chief of the Defence Staff Commendation (French: Mention élogieuse du Chef d'état-major de la Défense) — 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,^[6] as well as the Canadian Forces Medallion for Distinguished Service, which is given by the CDS on behalf of the entire forces.^[7]

Chiefs of the Defence Staff

Name	Rank	Year	Branch	Home Province	Appointed by	Notes
Frank Robert Miller	Air Chief Marshal[8]	1964–1966	Royal Canadian Air Force	BC	Georges Vanier	[9]
Jean-Victor Allard	General	1966–1969	Canadian Army	QC	Georges Vanier	[10]
Frederick Ralph Sharp	General	1969–1972	Air Command	SK	Roland Michener	[11]
Jacques Alfred Dextraze	General	1972–1977	Land Force Command	QC	Jules Léger	[12]
Robert Hilborn Falls	Admiral	1977–1980	Maritime Command	ON	Jules Léger	[13]
Ramsey Muir Withers	General	1980–1983	Land Force Command	ON	Edward Schreyer	[14]
Gérard Charles Édouard Thériault	General	1983–1986	Air Command	QC	Edward Schreyer	[15]
Paul David Manson	General	1986–1989	Air Command	BC	Jeanne Sauvé	[16]
John de Chastelain	General	1989–1993	Land Force Command	AB	Jeanne Sauvé	[17]
John Rogers Anderson	Admiral	1993	Maritime Command	BC	Ray Hnatyshyn	[18]
John de Chastelain	General	1994–1995	Land Force Command	AB	Ray Hnatyshyn	[17]
Joseph Édouard Jean Boyle	General	1996	Air Command	ON	Roméo LeBlanc	[19]
Larry Murray (Acting)	Vice-Admiral	1996 – 1997	Maritime Command	ON	Roméo LeBlanc	[20]
Maurice Baril	General	1997–2001	Land Force Command	QC	Roméo LeBlanc	[21]
Raymond Henault	General	2001–2005	Air Command	MB	Adrienne Clarkson	[22]
Rick Hillier	General	2005–2008	Land Force Command	NL	Adrienne Clarkson	[23]
Walter Natynczyk	General	2008–present	Land Force Command/Canadian Army	MB	Michaëlle Jean	[24]

See also

• Chief of the Maritime Staff (Canada)
• Chief of the Air Staff (Canada)

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Department of National Defence. "CDS Home > Responsibilities > CDS - Responsibilities". Queen's Printer for Canada. http://www.cds.forces.gc.ca/res/index-eng.asp. Retrieved 22 September 2009. 
2. ^ Canadian Army (1949-1964). "Fonds of the Chief of the General Staff". In Department of National Defence. Histories > DHH Historical Research Centre > Research > DHH Archive Database > Reports > Miscellaneous Reports/Documents > DHH Archival Database Extract. Ottawa: Queen's Printer for Canada. p. 40. 97/10. http://www.cmp-cpm.forces.gc.ca/dhh-dhp/his/rep-rap/doc/misc/Archives.pdf. Retrieved 22 September 2009. 
3. ^ ^{a b c d} "Chief of the Defence Staff > Priorities > About the CDS - Defence Priorities for 2009-2010". Queen's Printer for Canada. http://www.cds.forces.gc.ca/pri/index-eng.asp. Retrieved 22 September 2009. 
4. ^ Department of National Defence (2007). Honours & Recognition for the Men and Women of the Canadian Forces. Ottawa: Queen's Printer for Canada. p. 105. http://www.cmp-cpm.forces.gc.ca/dhr-ddhr/pub/doc/hrmwcf-dhrhffc-2007.pdf. Retrieved 22 September 2009. 
5. ^ Office of the Governor General of Canada. "Honours > National Orders > Order of Military Merit". Queen's Printer for Canada. http://www.gg.ca/honours/nat-ord/omm/index_e.asp. Retrieved 22 September 2009. 
6. ^ Department of National Defence 2007, p. 66
7. ^ Department of National Defence 2007, p. 80
8. ^ This rank was used during the existence of the Royal Canadian Air Force and replaced with the rank of general in 1968 with the unification of the Canadian Forces. See Category:Canadian Forces Air Command generals for such officers. Miller was one of only two Canadian Air Chief Marshals, the other being Lloyd Samuel Breadner
9. ^ Legault, Albert (1992). A Diplomacy of Hope: Canada and Disarmament. McGill-Queen's Press. ISBN 0773509550. 
10. ^ "General Jean-Victor Allard". Virtual Museum of Canada. http://www.virtualmuseum.ca/Exhibitions/Militaris/eng/land/people/pplpopup/c.1.1a.html. Retrieved 21 March 2009. 
11. ^ Preston, Richard (1991). To Serve Canada. University of Ottawa Press. ISBN 0776603272. 
12. ^ Horn, Bernd (2007). Loyal service: Perspectives on French-Canadian Military Leaders. Dundurn Press Ltd.. ISBN 1550026933. 
13. ^ Martell, Paul (1974). World Military Leaders. Bowker. ISBN 0835207854. 
14. ^ "General Ramsey M. Withers". Conference of Defence Associations. http://www.cda-cdai.ca/CDAI/Withers.htm. Retrieved 21 March 2009. ^{[dead link]}
15. ^ Marsh, James (2006). The Canadian Encyclopedia. Hurtig Publishers. ISBN 0888303300. 
16. ^ "Gen. Paul D. MANSON". Canadian Who's Who 1997. http://www.utpress.utoronto.ca/cgi-bin/cw2w3.cgi?p=maker&t=93978&d=1857. Retrieved 21 March 2009. 
17. ^ ^{a b} Bernd, Horn (2001). Warrior Chiefs: Perspectives on Senior Canadian Military Leaders. Dundurn Press Ltd.. ISBN 1550023519. 
18. ^ "Admiral John R. ANDERSON". Canadian Who's Who 1997. http://www.utpress.utoronto.ca/cgi-bin/cw2w3.cgi?p=allen&t=115955&d=1252. Retrieved 21 March 2009. 
19. ^ "General Joseph Édouard Jean BOYLE". Canadian Who's Who 1997. http://www.utpress.utoronto.ca/cgi-bin/cw2w3.cgi?p=boyd&t=33236&d=1865. Retrieved 21 March 2009. 
20. ^ "Vice-Admiral Larry MURRAY". Canadian Who's Who 1997. http://www.utpress.utoronto.ca/cgi-bin/cw2w3.cgi?p=munn&t=63803&d=1142. Retrieved 21 March 2009. 
21. ^ "Assumption of Command of Lieutenant-General J.M.G. Baril". Governor General. http://www.gg.ca/media/doc.asp?lang=e&DocID=25. Retrieved 21 March 2009. 
22. ^ "NATO Biographies: Chairman of the Military Committee, General Raymond Henault". NATO. http://www.nato.int/cv/milcom/henault-e.htm. Retrieved 21 March 2009. 
23. ^ "CBC News In Depth: Gen. Rick Hillier". CBC. http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/hillier/. Retrieved 21 March 2009. 
24. ^ "New top soldier a 'gentleman's general'". Ottawa Citizen. http://www2.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?id=c5ca775a-a5a4-486a-a24d-e4eb3ccd7d32. Retrieved 21 March 2009. 

External links

• Department of National Defence. "Chief of the Defence Staff". Queen's Printer for Canada. http://www.cds-cemd.forces.gc.ca/index-eng.asp.