| 14th | Top Memorial University of Newfoundland people |
| Rick J. Hillier | |
|---|---|
 General Hillier in 2005 |
|
| Place of birth | Campbellton, Newfoundland |
| Allegiance | Canada |
| Service/branch |  Canadian Forces/Land Force Command |
| Years of service | 1973-2008 |
| Rank | General |
| Commands held | SFOR Multinational Division (Southwest), ISAF, Chief of the Land Staff, Chief of the Defence Staff |
| Battles/wars | War in Afghanistan |
| Awards | Commander of the Order of Military Merit Meritorious Service Cross Canadian Forces Decoration |
General Rick Hillier, CMM, MSC, CD (born 1955), is the former Chief of the Defence Staff of the Canadian Forces. He held this appointment from February 4, 2005 to July 1, 2008. He retired on July 1, 2008, and was replaced by former Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff (VCDS) Walter Natynczyk. He is also the highest ranking Newfoundland and Labrador officer in history.[1]
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Born in 1955 and raised in Campbellton, Notre Dame Bay, Newfoundland, he graduated from Memorial University of Newfoundland in 1975 with a Bachelor of Science degree. He is an honorary member of the Royal Military College of Canada, college number S148.[citation needed]
He was posted to his first regiment, the 8th Canadian Hussars (Princess Louise's) in Petawawa, Ontario, and subsequently to the Royal Canadian Dragoons in Lahr, Germany. He has also served as a staff officer at Force Mobile Command Headquarters at CFB St. Hubert in Montreal, and at National Defence Headquarters in Ottawa. He commanded 2 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group (2 CMBG) in 1997-98, and (in 1998) as Deputy Commanding General of III Armoured Corps of the United States Army, at Fort Hood, Texas. In January 1998, as Commander 2 CMBG, he led Operation Recuperation, the Canadian Forces' intervention in the paralysing ice storm in Ontario, Quebec and New Brunswick.
He was named Chief of the Land Staff, commanding the Canadian Army, on May 30, 2003.[2] Previously, he had commanded the Multinational Division (Southwest) in Bosnia-Herzegovina. After serving as Chief of the Land Staff and before being appointed Chief of the Defence Staff, he commanded the NATO ISAF in Afghanistan from February 9 to August 12, 2004, bringing to this role his support for what is known as Canada's "3-D" approach to security – defence, diplomacy, and development.[citation needed]
Hillier is noted for his public calls for increased resources for the Canadian Forces.[3] In 2003, when he was appointed Chief of the Land Staff, he said, "Any commander who would stand up here and say that we didn't need more soldiers should be tarred and feathered and rode out of town on a rail."[4] He was believed to be referring to cutbacks made to the Canadian Forces in the mid-1990s.
On February 4 2005, he became Chief of the Defence Staff. At the change-of-command ceremony he repeated his call, more broadly, for increased military funding. "In this country, we could probably not give enough resources to the men and women to do all the things that we ask them to do," he said, with Prime Minister Paul Martin and Defence Minister Bill Graham looking on. "But we can give them too little, and that is what we are now doing. Remember them in your budgets."[5] His willingness to speak openly and on the record about the Canadian Forces' financial resources, and about the Defence budget in particular, distinguishes Hillier from previous Chiefs of the Defence Staff.[citation needed]
After his appointment, Hillier maintained a very high profile, frequently talking with the media and arguing his case for defence planning. He has been called the most prominent Chief of the Defence Staff in decades, with popularity not just in the military, but among a broad spectrum of Canadian civilians.
On 15 April 2008, Hillier announced he would step down as CDS on 1 July 2008.[6]
Hillier was subsequently appointed as chancellor of Memorial University of Newfoundland, effective July 3, 2008.[7] He succeeded former federal cabinet minister John Crosbie, who held the post of chancellor until February 2008, when he became Lieutenant-Governor of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Hillier recently announced that he will be transitioning to the civilian workforce from a temporary office at the national law firm Gowlings.[citation needed]
In 2009, Rick Hillier co-founded Project Hero, a scholarship program for the children of Canadian Forces personnel killed while on active military duty. The Children of Deceased Veterans - Education Assistance Act verification is used to verify Project Hero eligibility. The process is administered by the Veterans Affairs Canada. Eligible recipients must be:
On July 3, 2008, Hillier began a term as Chancellor of Memorial University of Newfoundland, his alma mater.
On August 14, 2008 TELUS announced the appointment of General Rick Hillier (retired) as Chair of TELUS Atlantic Canada Community Board. General Hillier said, “TELUS is a company that gets stuff done both in business and in the community – I like that. They are entrusting their philanthropic efforts in Atlantic Canada to people who live and work here. I'm excited about the opportunity to help TELUS engage with the Atlantic Canada communities that are so very important to me.”[9]
He announced on September 3, 2008, he will be working at an Ottawa office for the TD Bank to support initiatives that enhance the client and customer experience and to assist the bank's ongoing leadership development and training activities.[10]
Hillier is currently working with the United Nations as PeaceKeeping Envoy to Afghanistan.
June 16, 2009: While attending the 48th International Paris Air Show, Provincial Aerospace announced that General Rick Hillier (Retired) will join the company’s Advisory Board. Provincial Aerospace Press Release
Hillier is married and with his wife Joyce, has two sons, Chris and Steven, a daughter-in-law, Chris' wife, Caroline, and 2 grandsons, Jack and Matthew. [4] He has 5 sisters, (Shirley, Donna, Beverly, Heather and Maxine.)
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Raymond Henault |
Chief of the Defence Staff 2005-2008 |
Succeeded by Walter Natynczyk |
| Preceded by Goetz Gliemeroth |
Commander, International Security Assistance Force February 2004-August 2004 |
Succeeded by Jean-Louis Py |
| Academic offices | ||
| Preceded by His Honour the Hon. John Crosbie |
Chancellor of Memorial University of Newfoundland 2008- |
Succeeded by Incumbent |
   | CBC News Indepth background - CBC News In Depth: Gen. Rick Hillier |
| | Official biography - CDS - HTTP Error 404 | CEMD - Erreur HTTP 404.1 |
| | Interview with Rick Hillier - CBC News - The Hour with George Stroumboulopoulos |
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