Vice Chief of the Defence Staff Lt.-Gen Paul Wynnyk announces retirement

In a press release from the Canadian Armed Forces Lieutenant-General Paul Wynnyk, Vice Chief of the Defence Staff of the Canadian Armed Forces, announced his retirement today.

“I would like to thank the Chief of the Defence Staff, General Jon Vance, for the confidence he showed in me when he appointed me as the Vice Chief and for his leadership of the CAF during what have been challenging times recently. I would also like to give a shout out to the many admirals and generals who lead the CAF with such professionalism every day and who will stay the course we are on in this time of great change. You are on the right track!

“Lastly, I would like to thank all of the individual soldiers, sailors, and aviators of all ranks with whom I have had the privilege to serve over these many years and are far too numerous to name. Your courage and sacrifice continue to make the CAF an incredible institution all Canadians can be proud of.

“I am leaving the Canadian Armed Forces after an incredible career that took me farther, and challenged me more deeply, than I could ever have imagined. I have been considering this decision for the past few months and Marianne and I have decided that the time to reunite with my family is now,” Lt.-Gen. Paul Wynnyk, vice-chief of the defence staff.

After more than 38 years of service to Canada. Lt.-Gen. Wynnyk’s retirement will be effective as of 9 August 2019.

“On behalf of the entire Canadian Armed Forces family, I would like to sincerely thank Paul for his tireless contribution and sacrifice to our country. He has been an exceptional leader and an even better friend. He will be deeply missed,” General Jonathan Vance, chief of the defence staff.

LGen Wynnyk’s command appointments include 1 Combat Engineer Regiment (1CER) from 1997 to 1999, 1 Area Support Group from 2004 to 2006, Land Force Western Area/Joint Task Force West (now 3rd Canadian Division) from 2010 to 2012, Canadian Forces Intelligence Command from 2014 to 2016 and the Canadian Army from 2016 to 2018.

He has served in a variety of staff assignments over the course of his career and has held a number of positions at National Defence Headquarters including the operations desk officer responsible for Canada’s military commitment in the Balkans, and a posting to the Privy Council Office where he was employed as the Senior Defence Advisor and Director of Operations for the Foreign and Defence Policy Advisor to the Prime Minister.

LGen Wynnyk’s overseas assignments include, in addition to four years of service in Germany, tours with the UN Advance Mission in Cambodia, the UN Transitional Authority in Cambodia, and an assignment as the Canadian Task Force Commander and mission Chief of Operations of the Mission de l’Organisation des Nations Unies en République démocratique du Congo. In 2009, he was posted to the Combined Security Transition Command – Afghanistan as the Assistant Commanding General responsible for overseeing the development of the Afghan Ministry of Defense and the Afghan National Army.

In 1981 LGen Wynnyk joined the 20th Field Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery (Militia) in the rank of Gunner prior to his acceptance under the Regular Officer Training Plan. Studying at both Royal Roads Military College and the Royal Military College of Canada, he was commissioned into the Canadian Military Engineers in 1986 and subsequently undertook regimental duties in both Europe and in Canada.

LGen Wynnyk was appointed Vice Chief of the Defence Staff on July 16, 2018.

The selection of his successor in the critical position as the second in command of the CAF will be announced in the near future.