Today’s News

News Groups Report Lieutenant-General Jennie Carignan to be next Chief of the Defence Staff

CMFMAG Team June 29, 2024

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Above images: LGen Jennie Carignan over the last eight years. Left to right, Carignan being promoted to Brigadier-General. LGen Carignan Chief Professional Conduct and Culture Command and, right, when she was a Major-General and the Commander of NATO Mission Iraq. Images courtesy of CAF/DND.

According to reports from many Canadian media outlets, Lieutenant-General Jennie Carignan has been named the next chief of the defence staff of the Canadian Armed Forces.

The story broke early Friday evening when the CBC reported that “Lt.-Gen. Jennie Carignan chosen as next chief of the defence staff.”

“CBC News is keeping the name of the source confidential because they were not allowed to speak publicly about the announcement,” reported the news site.

The Governor General makes the Governor in Council appointments on the advice of the Cabinet. Above image: Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon, Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of Canada, presented with the first poppy of the National Poppy Campaign during a ceremony at Rideau Hall. Photo by: Sgt/Le Sgt Anis Assari, Rideau Hall. Image courtesy of Rideau Hall.

How is a Chief of the Defence Staff Selected

According to Stéphane Shank, Privy Council Office, “The selection process for the Chief of the Defence Staff is being led by the Privy Council Office. It is open to senior ranks of the Canadian Armed Forces.”

He noted that the National Defence Act, subsection 18(1), states that the Governor in Council (GIC) appoints a CDS. The Governor General, who is also the Commander-in-Chief of Canada, makes the GIC appointments on the advice of the Cabinet.

“Candidates for the position will undergo a rigorous assessment and vetting process. The Selection Committee includes the Minister of National Defence as well as senior officials from Privy Council Office and the Department of National Defence,” said Shank in an email.

Major-General Jennie Carignan, the departing Commander NATO Mission Iraq, speaks about her experiences to members of Joint Task Force IMPACT at Camp Canada, Ali Al Salem Air Base, Kuwait, on November 25, 2020. Image by: MCpl J.W.S Houck JTF-I – Public Affairs. Image courtesy of CAF/DND.

LGen Jennie Carignan’s Career

After serving 30 years, LGen Carignan was promoted to Brigadier-General in 2016, making her the world’s first female combat arms general.

With her promotion, she assumed the role of Chief of Staff, Army Operations, providing strategic staff support to the Commander of the Canadian Army to direct, manage, synchronize, and sustain the Army.

She was also in charge of managing the Army Staff on behalf of the Commander of the Canadian Army.

Throughout her career, Carignan has served in Bosnia-Herzegovina, the Golan Heights, and as the Commanding Officer of the Task Force Kandahar Engineer Regiment. She also commanded the Royal Military College Saint-Jean and the 2nd Canadian Division, leading over 10,000 soldiers.

In November 2019, when Carignan was a Major-General, she was appointed Commander of NATO Mission Iraq, where she served for a year. In May 2021, the Chief of the Defence Staff General Wayne Eyre announced Carignan’s current post in a CANFORGEN.

She was promoted to LGen and appointed to the then-new Chief Professional Conduct and Culture Command position.

She is married to Eric Lefrançois and the couple have four children.