Jonathan Vance | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Vance in 2018 | |
| Birth name | Jonathan Holbert Vance |
| Nickname | Jon |
| Born | (1964-01-03)January 3, 1964 (age 62) Kingston, Ontario, Canada |
| Allegiance |  Canada |
| Branch |  Canadian Army |
| Service years | 1982–2021 |
| Rank |  General |
| Commands | |
| Conflicts | War in Afghanistan Military intervention against ISIL |
| Awards | Meritorious Service Cross Canadian Forces' Decoration |
| Alma mater | Royal Roads Military College (BA) Royal Military College of Canada (MA) |
| Spouse | Kerry Vance |
GeneralJonathan Holbert Vance (born January 3, 1964) is a retiredCanadian Forces officer who served as ageneral in theCanadian Army. Vance was theChief of the Defence Staff from 2015 to 2021.
In July 2021, Vance was charged with one count of obstruction of justice, in relation to investigations of sexual misconduct. Prior to this charge, it was alleged he boasted that he was "untouchable" by military police due to his high rank. On March 30, 2022, Vance pleaded guilty to a summary (misdemeanour) charge of obstruction of justice, and subsequently received aconditional discharge.
Vance was born on January 3, 1964, inKingston, Ontario.[1] At the age of 13, while his fatherJack Vance—a Canadian Forces officer—was posted inLahr, Germany, he joined theArmy Cadets.[2]
His father Jack Vance reached the rank oflieutenant-general, and served as theVice Chief of Defence Staff in 1985.[3]
Vance himself went on to join the Canadian Forces in 1982, attending theRoyal Roads Military College where he obtained a bachelor of arts (BA) in military and strategic studies in 1986.[2] He also holds a master of arts (MA) degree in war studies from theRoyal Military College of Canada.[2]
His current wife is Kerry Vance (née Mahon), a retiredUnited States Army colonel in theJudge Advocate General's Corps. The couple met when they were both serving in a NATO posting in Naples, Italy.[4][5][6]
Upon graduation in 1986, Vance was commissioned in the Canadian Forces as an infantry officer withThe Royal Canadian Regiment.[7] His father, Jack, was serving as theVice Chief of the Defence Staff when he was commissioned.[8]
He served as deputy commander of the Allied Joint Force Command Naples, and commander of the Canadian Task Force inKandahar,Afghanistan in 2009 and 2010.[9][10] He went on to be commander of theCanadian Joint Operations Command in September 2014.[1]
On April 27, 2015, Prime MinisterStephen Harper announced that Vance had been selected as the new Chief of the Defence Staff.[9][8][11] He formally succeeded GeneralThomas J. Lawson in the role following a transfer of command ceremony held on July 17, 2015.[12]
In 2016, Vance announced Operation Honour which aimed to stamp out sexual misconduct in the Armed Forces.[13]
On July 23, 2020, Vance announced his intention to retire as chief of Defence Staff after five years in office, serving until his replacement would be named. Despite being a potential candidate for an upcoming vacancy aschairman of the NATO Military Committee, the federal government announced its intention not to pursue the competition.[14]
On December 23, 2020, Prime MinisterJustin Trudeau announced that Vance would be succeeded by then-Vice AdmiralArt McDonald as Chief of the Defence Staff, with the change of command held on January 14, 2021.[15]
Shortly following his retirement, a report emerged detailing inappropriate behaviour from Vance towards two female subordinates, at least one of which was allegedly "unwanted",[16] possibly violating "directives that govern personal relationships and such actions might contravene provisions in theNational Defence Act (NDA) that relate to good order and discipline."[17]
Following the allegations, an investigation into Vance's conduct was launched by theCanadian Forces National Investigation Service, a unit of theMilitary Police.[18] Additionally, theHouse of Commons defence committee voted to study the matter,[19] and theDepartment of National Defence committed to an external probe into Vance, which has since expanded to "also deal with rising concerns that the issue of sexual misconduct by the senior ranks could be a systemic issue in the Canadian Armed Forces".[20]
On July 15, 2021, Vance was formally charged with obstruction of justice under Section 139 of theCriminal Code.[21][22] The indictment focuses on allegations made by Major Kellie Brennan that he instructed her to lie when being interviewed by military police investigating charges against him. Vance was reportedly engaged in a 20-year consensual relationship with Brennan, concurrent with his higher rank in the military and fathered two of her eight children. Brennan says that Vance told her that he was "untouchable" and that he "owned" the military police.[23][24] Subsequentpaternity testing showed that one child had 99.99991% chance of being fathered by Vance, while the other child did not.[25]
No charges were laid against Vance under the military justice system. Following a review of the law byMorris Fish, retired justice of theSupreme Court of Canada Fish concluded that given Vance's high rank, it would not have been possible to empanel a military jury, which must be composed of officers of equal or higher rank.[26]
On March 30, 2022, Vance pleaded guilty to one count of obstruction of justice in theOntario Court of Justice in Ottawa.[27] As a result of the guilty plea, he was given aconditional discharge with 80 hours of community service and 12 months of probation.[28][29][30] Vance's criminal defence lawyer, Rodney Sellar, also confirmed that due to the turn of events, Vance started to pay child support to Kellie Brennan.[27] Furthermore, Sellar emphasized that Vance's reputation and finances have suffered immensely as a consequence of the criminal charge and subsequent guilty plea.[31][27] In Canada, a conditional discharge stays on the criminal record for three years after sentencing and thereafter will be sealed by theRoyal Canadian Mounted Police.[32]
In May 2022, Vance was expelled from thealumni association of theRoyal Military College of Canada over his guilty plea.[33]
Vance has received the following orders and decorations during his military career:
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| Ribbon | Description | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Meritorious Service Cross (MSC) |
|
| General Campaign Star |
|
| Special Service Medal |
|
| Canadian Peacekeeping Service Medal | |
 | UNPROFOR | |
| Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal |
|
| Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal |
|
| Canadian Forces' Decoration (CD) |
|
| Commander of the National Order of the Legion of Honour |
|
| Order of Viesturs, First Class |
|
| Commander of the National Order of the Star of Romania |
|
Vance was a qualifiedParatrooper and as such wore theCanadian Forces Jump Wings with RedMaple Leaf.
At his request, Vance's appointment to theOrder of Military Merit in the grade of Commander was terminated effective April 20, 2022 by theGovernor General of CanadaMary Simon.[41] He was appointed as an Officer of the Order in 2010 and upgraded to Commander in 2015.[42]
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Chief of the Defence Staff 2015–2021 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by Stuart Beare | Commander of theCanadian Joint Operations Command 2014–2015 | Succeeded by Stephen Bowes |