Additional General Officer and Flag Officer 2023 Promotions Announced

Following up on previous announcements, the Chief of the Defence Staff, General Wayne Eyre, recently released additional General Officer and Flag Officer promotions.

“Following my previous announcements,” noted General Eyre, “I have the privilege to announce additional General Officer and Flag Officer promotions for 2023.”

CANFORGEN 183/23 follows CANFORGENS 070/23 and 095/23. The General noted the delay in the promotion announcement was due to the updated promotion-selection process.

“The Canadian Armed Forces continues to add new rigour and science to its promotion-selection process, beginning first with General Officers and Flag Officers,” said General Eyre.

The evolved process takes longer, causing a delay in promotion announcements.

He added, “I appreciate the additional stress this imposes on members and families in an already stressful environment. The team continues to put maximum effort into the timely staffing and approval of these promotions and appointments.”

General Officer & Flag Officer Promotions

• Major-General D.A. Macaulay was promoted Lieutenant-General and will be appointed Deputy Commander of United Nations Command in Pyeongtaek, Republic of Korea.
• Brigadier-General R.B. Dundon was promoted Major-General acting while so employed and appointed Chief of Staff (Material) in Ottawa, replacing Major-General D.D. Basinger.
• Commodore M.A. Hopper was promoted Rear-Admiral and appointed Chief of Reserves in Ottawa, replacing Major-General R.R. Mackenzie.
• Brigadier-General D.P. O’Reilly was promoted Major-General and appointed Commander Canadian Defence Academy in Kingston, replacing Major-General D.C. Aitchison.
• Brigadier-General J.S. Trudeau was promoted Major-General and Remains appointed Canadian Forces Provost Marshal and Commander Canadian Forces Military Police Group in Ottawa.
• Brigadier-General F.W. Radiff was promoted Major-General and appointed J3 North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) in Colorado Springs, Colorado, replacing Major-General J.B.P. Carpentier.
• Brigadier-General J.R. Speiser-Blanchet was promoted Major-General and appointed Deputy Commander Royal Canadian Air Force In Ottawa, replacing Major-General C.R. Keiver.
• Commodore S.M. Thornton was promoted Rear-Admiral and appointed Chief of Programme in Ottawa, replacing Rear-Admiral J.M. Hamilton.
• Brigadier-General acting while so employed S.M. Parsons was promoted substantive and appointed Director General Digital Enterprise Modernization in Ottawa, replacing Commodore S.M. Thornton.
• Colonel D.N. Brais was promoted Brigadier-General and appointed Commander National Cadets and Junior Canadian Rangers Support Group in Ottawa, replacing Major-General J.R. Speiser-Blanchet.
• Colonel B.S. Cook was promoted Brigadier-General acting while so employed and appointed Chief of Staff to the Chief of the Defence Staff in Ottawa, replacing Brigadier-General D.P. O Reilly.
• Colonel R.G. Deming was promoted Brigadier-General and appointed Director General Air and Space Readiness in Ottawa, replacing Brigadier-General M.W. Goulden.
• Colonel S.M.M. Godin was promoted Brigadier-General acting while so employed and appointed Director General Issues in Ottawa, replacing Brigadier-General M.R. Perreault.
• Colonel S.T. Hatton was promoted Brigadier-General acting while so employed and appointed Deputy J3, United States Central Command, in Tampa, Florida. This is a Rationalization of The Existing Position of Vice J3, formerly at the rank of Rear- Admiral /Major-general.
• Colonel R.F. Holman was promoted Brigadier-General and appointed by Her Excellency the Governor General in Council to be Judge Advocate General of the Canadian Forces, in Ottawa, replacing Rear-Admiral G. Bernatchez.
• Colonel J.E. Landry was promoted Brigadier-General and appointed Chief of Staff I Corps (United States), Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, replacing Brigadier-General C.I. Oberwarth.
• Colonel P.A. Lockhart was promoted Brigadier-General and appointed Deputy Chief of Staff, Chief Professional Conduct and Culture, in Ottawa, replacing Brigadier-General C.A. Heilman.
• Colonel J.W. Macdonald was promoted Brigadier-General and appointed Deputy Commander 5th Canadian Division in Halifax, replacing Brigadier-General G.B. Thomson.
• Colonel R.W. McBride was promoted Brigadier-General and appointed Deputy Commanding General, Operations, 11th Airborne Division (United States), Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, replacing Brigadier-General M.L. Lapointe.
• Colonel C.C. Moyle was promoted Brigadier-General and appointed Director General Equipment Program Management in Ottawa, replacing Brigadier-General R.B. Dundon.
• Colonel W.S.F. Norquay was promoted to Brigadier-General and appointed Director General Information Capabilities Force Development in Ottawa, replacing Brigadier-General P.C. Sabourin.
• Colonel J.P. Picard was promoted Brigadier-General and appointed to a new position as Director General Clinical Services In Ottawa.
• Colonel J.M.Y.D. Riviere was promoted Brigadier-General and appointed Commander Joint Task Force (North) in Yellowknife, replacing Brigadier-General J.P.P. Godbout.
• Colonel J.W. Robinson was promoted Brigadier-General acting while so employed and appointed Deputy Commander 4th Canadian Division in Toronto, replacing Brigadier-General J.M. Valtonen.
• Captain (Navy) S. Sader was promoted Commodore acting while so employed and appointed Director General Joint Integration and Operational Support in Ottawa, replacing Brigadier-General K.E. Osmond.
• Colonel R.D.C. Schmidt was promoted Brigadier-General acting while so employed and appointed Deputy Commander Canadian Special Operations Forces Command in Ottawa, replacing Brigadier-General S.J. Hunter.
• Colonel D.L. Taylor was promoted Brigadier-General and appointed Director General Aerospace Equipment Program Management In Ottawa, replacing Brigadier-General M.W.J. Rodgers.
• Colonel R.J. Walker was promoted Brigadier-General and appointed Deputy Commander Force Generation, 1 Canadian Air Division, in Winnipeg, replacing Brigadier-General S.A. Connor.

Promoted Substantive Rank

The following General and Flag Officers were promoted to substantive rank:

• Commodore J.L. Murray
• Brigadier-General M.F.J. Pelletier

In 2022, Rear-Admiral C.F. Sutherland was appointed Acting Deputy Commander Military Personnel Command and Assistant Chief of Military Personnel. The appointment became substantive effective Jan. 1, 2023.

Released from CAF

The following General Officers have released from the CAF:

• Major-General J.S.S.D. Fortin
• Brigadier-General C.A. Heilman

“Additional General Officer and Flag Officer Promotions and Appointments will be announced at a later date,” stated the Chief of the Defence Staff, closing the CANFORGEN.

“I offer my congratulations and sincerest best wishes to those taking on new appointments and responsibilities.”