General Vance submits resignation letter

This afternoon Chief of the Defence Staff General Jonathan Vance handed in his letter of resignation.

He began his letter addressing military personnel, their families, and the Defence Team.

“To my Sailors, Soldiers, Aviators, Special Forces Operations and your families; to our Deputy Minister, DND and NPF Employees and my friends and colleagues: to the members of the CDS Council; To my Senior Leadership.

“I wish to inform you that I have conferred with our Minister of National Defence, our Prime Minister and, Her Excellency the Governor General and have conveyed to them my intent, and with their permission, to relinquish command fo the Canadian Armed Forces in the months to come. The selection of a new Chief of the Defence Staff and subsequent change of command date will be determined by the Government.”

This year marks the General’s 39th year of service and his sixth year as Chief of the Defence Staff. In his letter he noted he will continue serving until a new Chief of the Defence Staff is found.

Born in Kingston, Ontario, General Vance joined the Canadian Armed Forces in 1982, where he was commissioned as an infantry officer upon graduation from Royal Roads Military College in 1986.

He served on UN Peacekeeping operations with the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Royal Canadian Regiment. He went on to commanded 1 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group in Edmonton from 2006 to 2008

He also served as the Commander of the Canadian Task Force in Kandahar, Afghanistan, in 2009 to 2010, and he as the Deputy Commander of the Allied Joint Force Command in Naples 2013 to 2014.

He took command of the Canadian Armed Forces on July 17, 2015.

Vance grew up in a military home, with his father Lieutenant-General (ret’d) Jack Vance serving with the Royal Canadian Regiment. Jack Vance finished his career serving as the Vice Chief of the Defence Staff. He held the post from 1985 to 1988.

In closing his letter, General Vance noted, “Until I relinquish command I will continue to serve you and Canadians with the same energy and effort I always have. In the meantime remember, you mean everything to Canada, you are more important to the success of this nation than most will ever know, and I am so very proud to be counted among your ranks.”

“You, the members of the #CAF, have been the inspiration for my life and I have given you my all. Until I relinquish command I will continue to serve you and Canadians with the same energy and effort I always have. Pro Patria” JV pic.twitter.com/Uf1lh9TENu

— General / Général Wayne Eyre (@CDS_Canada_CEMD) July 23, 2020