Chief of the Defence Staff
Chef d'état-major de la Défense
Distinguishing flag of the CDS
Incumbent GeneralJennie Carignan since 18 July 2024
Canadian Armed Forces
Type	Chief of defence
Abbreviation	CDS
Member of	Armed Forces Council
Reports to	Commander-in-Chief via theMinister of National Defence
Appointer	King of Canada or theGovernor General of Canada on the advice of thePrime Minister of Canada
Term length	At His Majesty's Pleasure
Constituting instrument	National Defence Act
Precursor	Chairman of theChiefs of Staff Committee
Formation	1964
First holder	Frank Robert Miller
Deputy	Vice Chief of the Defence Staff
Website	Official website

Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS;French:chef d'état-major de la Défense;CEMD) is the title of the professional head of theCanadian Armed Forces. As the senior military position, the CDS advises theCabinet, particularly theminister of national defence and theprime minister.^[1] The position is aCrown-in-Council appointment made on theadvice of the prime minister.

Until 1964, there existed a chief of the Naval Staff, as head of theRoyal Canadian Navy; a chief of the General Staff, as head of theCanadian Army; and achief of the Air Staff, as head of theRoyal Canadian Air Force. A position known as the Chairman of theChiefs of Staff Committee existed from 1951 to 1964, 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).^[2] Only two officers served in the role in its 13-year history:GeneralCharles Foulkes (1951–1960) andAir Chief MarshalFrank Robert Miller (1960–1964).^[3]

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 awhite paper initiated by National Defence MinisterPaul Hellyer in the Cabinet of Prime MinisterLester B. Pearson.^[4] 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."^[4] In May 1967, Bill C-243 was passed by parliament and was effective as of 1 February 1968. The law dissolved the three armed services andcreated the Canadian Armed Forces under the command of the CDS.^[5] In 2011, the three functional commands—named Maritime Command, Land Force Command, and Air Command—had their original names reinstated, becoming once again the Royal Canadian Navy, Canadian Army, and Royal Canadian Air Force, respectively.^[6]

The chief of the Defence Staff (CDS) follows in rank only thecommander-in-chief of the Canadian Armed Forces, who is theCanadian monarch represented by thegovernor general. The National Defence Act gives the authority to appoint the CDS to theGovernor-in-Council;^[7] effectively, the governor general acting on theconstitutional advice of his or herministers of the Crown. The commander-in-chief is the person from whom the CDS receives his or her orders.^[8] However, according to the tenets ofconstitutional monarchy andresponsible government, the monarch and viceroy almost always follow ministerial direction, meaning the CDS normally advises the prime minister and the rest of Cabinet directly on military matters.^[8]

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.^[9] Secondly, the CDS is expected to expand the regular andreserve 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.^[9] The third task is to implement the national defence strategy as outlined by theKing-in-Council, requiring both the acquisition of new equipment and the strengthening of diplomatic relations via the United Nations,North Atlantic Treaty Organization, andNorth American Aerospace Defence Command."^[9] Lastly, the CDS must enhance the forces' programme delivery while optimising the use of resources.^[9]

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.^[10] This committee mirrors that for theOrder of Military Merit, of which the CDS isex-officio a member and the Principal Commander.^[11]

Separately, the CDS presents the Chief of the Defence Staff Commendation (French:Mention élogieuse du Chef d'état-major de la Défense) to recognize activity or service beyond regular expectations.^[12][13] It can be presented to members of the Canadian Forces, civilian members of theDefence Team (in an overseas operation), and members of an allied foreign military (whose actions benefited Canada).^[13] The insignia for wear has the form of a gold bar bearing three gold maple leaves and the award comes with a scroll bearing the citation.^[13] The CDS also awards theCanadian Forces Medallion for Distinguished Service, which is given by the CDS on behalf of the entire forces.^[14]

The CDS is entitled to fly the Canadian Armed Forces ensign – a white flag bearing theCanadian flag in thecanton anddefaced by the badge of the Canadian Armed Forces – as a distinguishing flag.^[15]

No.	Portrait	Name	Took office	Left office	Time in office	Home province	Defence branch	Appointed by	Prime minister	Ref.
1		Miller, Frank RobertAir Chief Marshal[a] Frank Robert Miller (1908–1997)	1 August 1964	14 July 1966	1 year, 347 days	British Columbia	Royal Canadian Air Force	Vanier, GeorgesGeorges Vanier	Lester B. Pearson	[16]
2		Allard, Jean VictorGeneral Jean-Victor Allard (1913–1996)	15 July 1966	14 September 1969	3 years, 61 days	Quebec	Canadian Army	Vanier, GeorgesGeorges Vanier	Lester B. Pearson	[17]
3		Sharp, Frederick RalphGeneral Frederick Ralph Sharp (1915–1992)	15 September 1969	14 September 1972	2 years, 365 days	Saskatchewan	Air Command	Michener, RolandRoland Michener	Pierre Trudeau	[18]
4		Dextraze, Jacques AlfredGeneral Jacques Alfred Dextraze (1919–1993)	15 September 1972	31 August 1977	4 years, 350 days	Quebec	Mobile Command	Léger, JulesJules Léger	Pierre Trudeau	[19]
5		Falls, Robert HilbornAdmiral Robert Hilborn Falls (1924–2009)	15 September 1977	30 May 1980	2 years, 258 days	Ontario	Maritime Command	Léger, JulesJules Léger	Pierre Trudeau	[20]
6		Withers, Ramsey MuirGeneral Ramsey Muir Withers (1930–2014)	31 May 1980	30 June 1983	3 years, 30 days	Ontario	Mobile Command	Schreyer, EdwardEdward Schreyer	Pierre Trudeau	[21]
7		Thériault, Gérard Charles ÉdouardGeneral Gérard Charles Édouard Thériault (1932–1998)	1 July 1983	2 July 1986	3 years, 1 day	Quebec	Air Command	Schreyer, EdwardEdward Schreyer	Pierre Trudeau	[22]
8		Manson, Paul DavidGeneral Paul David Manson (1934–2023)	11 July 1986	8 September 1989	3 years, 59 days	British Columbia	Air Command	Sauvé, JeanneJeanne Sauvé	Brian Mulroney	[23]
9		de Chastelain, JohnGeneral John de Chastelain (born 1937)	8 September 1989	29 January 1993	3 years, 143 days	Alberta	Mobile Command	Sauvé, JeanneJeanne Sauvé	Brian Mulroney	[24]
10		Anderson, JohnAdmiral John Rogers Anderson (born 1941)	29 January 1993	31 December 1993	336 days	British Columbia	Maritime Command	Hnatyshyn, RayRay Hnatyshyn	Brian Mulroney	[25]
9		de Chastelain, JohnGeneral John de Chastelain (born 1937)	1 January 1994	31 December 1995	1 year, 364 days	Alberta	Land Force Command	Hnatyshyn, RayRay Hnatyshyn	Jean Chrétien	[24]
11		Boyle, Joseph Édouard JeanGeneral Joseph Édouard Jean Boyle (born 1947)	1 January 1996	8 October 1996	281 days	Ontario	Air Command	LeBlanc, RoméoRoméo LeBlanc	Jean Chrétien	[26]
–		Murray, LarryVice-Admiral Larry Murray (born 1947) Acting	8 October 1996	17 September 1997	344 days	Ontario	Maritime Command	LeBlanc, RoméoRoméo LeBlanc	Jean Chrétien	[27]
12		Baril, MauriceGeneral Maurice Baril (born 1943)	17 September 1997	28 June 2001	3 years, 284 days	Quebec	Land Force Command	LeBlanc, RoméoRoméo LeBlanc	Jean Chrétien	[28]
13		Henault, RaymondGeneral Raymond Henault (born 1949)	28 June 2001	17 June 2005	3 years, 354 days	Manitoba	Air Command	Clarkson, AdrienneAdrienne Clarkson	Jean Chrétien	[29]
14		Hillier, RickGeneral Rick Hillier (born 1955)	17 June 2005	1 July 2008	3 years, 14 days	Newfoundland and Labrador	Land Force Command	Clarkson, AdrienneAdrienne Clarkson	Paul Martin Stephen Harper	[30]
15		Natynczyk, WalterGeneral Walter Natynczyk (born 1957)	1 July 2008	29 October 2012	4 years, 120 days	Manitoba	Canadian Army[b]	Jean, MichaëlleMichaëlle Jean	Stephen Harper	[31]
16		Lawson, Thomas J.General Thomas J. Lawson (born 1957)	29 October 2012	17 July 2015	2 years, 261 days	Ontario	Royal Canadian Air Force	Johnston, DavidDavid Johnston	Stephen Harper	[32]
17		Vance, JonathanGeneral Jonathan Vance (born 1964)	17 July 2015	14 January 2021	5 years, 181 days	Ontario	Canadian Army	Johnston, DavidDavid Johnston	Stephen Harper Justin Trudeau	[33]
18		McDonald, ArtAdmiral Art McDonald (born 1967)	14 January 2021	24 February 2021	41 days	Nova Scotia	Royal Canadian Navy	Payette, JulieJulie Payette	Justin Trudeau	[34]
19		Eyre, WayneGeneral Wayne Eyre (born 1966 or 1967)	25 February 2021[c]	18 July 2024	3 years, 144 days	Saskatchewan	Canadian Army	Simon, MaryMary Simon[d]	Justin Trudeau	[35]
20		Carignan, JennieGeneral Jennie Carignan (born 1968)	18 July 2024	Incumbent	1 year, 132 days	Quebec	Canadian Army	Simon, MaryMary Simon	Justin Trudeau	[36]

• Chief of the Defence Force (Australia)
• Chief of the Defence Staff (United Kingdom)
• Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

• Official website
• Former Chiefs of the Defence Staff
• National Defence Act

• Chiefs of the Defence Staff (Canada)
• Canadian Armed Forces
• Canadian military officers
• Military appointments of Canada
• Chiefs of defence

• All articles with dead external links
• Articles with dead external links from November 2016
• Articles with permanently dead external links
• Articles with dead external links from August 2017
• Articles with short description
• Short description is different from Wikidata
• Use dmy dates from September 2020
• Articles containing French-language text
• Articles with hCards