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Chief of the Defence Staff Chef d'état-major de la défense
General Walter Natynczyk CMM MSC CD
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 army epaulette for the rank of general and position of CDS

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.

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]

The position evolved out of that of the Chief of the General Staff, which existed until the unification in 1964 of the Canadian Army, Royal Canadian Navy, and Royal Canadian Air Force.^[2] Since its creation, 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 Defence Staff

1960s-1970s

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]

1980s-1990s

Name	Rank	Year	Branch	Home province	Appointed by	Notes
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]

2000s-present

Name	Rank	Year	Branch	Home province	Appointed by	Notes
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	MB	Michaëlle Jean	[24]

References

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.  

Canadian Forces Commander-in-Chief • Chief of the Defence Staff • Armed Forces Council Canada Command • Canadian Expeditionary Force Command • Canadian Operational Support Command • Joint Task Force North • Reserve Force Maritime Command • Land Force Command • Air Command