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Senior CF Promotions & Appointments  –  DND Press Release  –  January 2009 News — Canadian Forces Senior Promotions and Appointments The release of  DND press releases often seem timed  to be out of sync with the news cycle, ie: when they are least likely to be noticed. The technique is common enough when a government department has to dish out contentious material.  However, the Minister of  National  Defence announcing the promotions and appointments for senior  Canadian Forces  officers at  the same time as a Federal Budget verges on the bizarre.  Does the MND regard some or all of  the appointments as being controversial? On the surface, there doesn't appear to be anything alarming or embarassing.  So why the peculiar timing of  this press release? Some of  the early retirements of  very senior officers from the Canadian Forces comes as a surprise  (see list at the bottom).  But we leave speculative judgements to readers. Two senior CF officers  due for retirement in 2009  have been given fresh assignments. BGen J.G.J.C. Barabé and Cmdre Roger MacIsaac will fulfil  these roles until retirement. The contents of  the 26 January 2009 DND press release from the MND follows below. Brief  biographical details have been inserted  [ in grey text  between square brackets ]. News Release Minister of  National Defence announces senior promotions and appointments NR-09.005 - January 26, 2009 OTTAWA – The Honourable Peter Gordon MacKay, Minister of National Defence and Minister for the Atlantic Gateway, is pleased to announce the senior Canadian Forces (CF) promotions and appointments for 2009. These officers lead the CF in defending Canada's values, interests and sovereignty at home and abroad. "Canadian Forces soldiers, sailors, airwomen[/]airmen tackle many challenges head on and strong leadership is essential for our continued success," said Minister MacKay. "There is no doubt in my mind that these General Officers and Flag Officers, with their knowledge, experience and skills will rise to the challenges that lie ahead of them." "Members of  the Canadian Forces deserve the best senior leadership there is," said [CDS] General Walter Natyncyzk... "These General Officers and Flag Officers bring a wealth of experience and foresight that will enable the Canadian Forces to maintain strong leadership and operational effectiveness, both domestically and abroad." The following promotions and appointments are planned for 2009: •  Lt.-Gen. J.J.C. Bouchard will be appointed Chief of Staff Supreme Allied Command    Transformation Headquarters in Norfolk, Virginia, replacing Lt.-Gen J. Arp ... ;    [ LGen Charlie Bouchard was Deputy Commander of  NORAD from 2 August 2007.] •  Acting Lt.-Gen. C.J.R. Davis was promoted Lt.-Gen and remained [ in his 2008 ap-    pointment ] as Canadian  Military Representative to NATO, in Brussels, Belgium;    [ LGen Christopher Davis previously commanded the Armour School at the Combat     Training Centre at  CFB Gagetown then, subsequently, commanded  the CTC itself.] •  Vice Adm. P.D. McFadden will be appointed Chief of the Maritime Staff at National    Defence Headquarters (NDHQ), in Ottawa, replacing Vice Adm. D.W. Robertson ...;    [ VAdm McFadden was Commander of  Canada Command NDHQ from June 2008.] •  Maj.-Gen. J.P.A. Deschamps will be promoted Lt.-Gen (Acting while so employed)    and appointed Chief of the Air Staff at NDHQ ... replacing Lt.-Gen W.A. Watt ... ;    [ MGen Deschamps was appointed Assistant Chief of the Air Staff in June 2008.] •  Rear Adm. A.B. Donaldson will be promoted Vice Adm. and appointed Commander    Canada Command in Ottawa, replacing Vice Adm. P.D. McFadden;    [ R Adm Donaldson was Director of  Staff-Strategic Joint Staff from June of  2007.] •  Maj.-Gen. J.M. Duval will be promoted Lt.-Gen and appointed Deputy Commander    NORAD, in Colorado, replacing Lt.-Gen J.J.C. Bouchard;    [ MGen Duval was Commander of  the 1 Canadian Air Division from July of  2007.] •  Maj.-Gen. J.G.M. Lessard will be promoted Lt.-Gen and appointed  Commander  Ca-    nadian Expeditionary Force Command, in Ottawa, replacing Lt.-Gen J.C.M. Gauthier;    [ MGen Lessard assumed command of RC South on 2 Feb 2008. MGen Lessard was     the Acting CLS,  then  the Assistant CLS  from  February of  2005 to June of  2007.] •  Maj.-Gen. D.J.R.S Benjamin will be appointed Chief of Staff Assistant Deputy Mini-    ster (Infrastructure and Environment) [ ADM (IE) ], at NDHQ, Ottawa;    [ MGen Daniel Benjamin was appointed the Commander of  Canadian Operational    Support Command in January of  2006.] •  Maj.-Gen. G.R. Thibault will  be appointed Chief of  Staff Assistant Deputy Minister    (Information Management)  [ COS ADM (IM) ] ... replacing Maj.-Gen. A.G. Hines;    [ MGen Guy Thibault was Assistant Chief of  Land Staff  from July 2007, and  the    former Commander of Land Force Central Area.] •  Brig.-Gen. J.A.J.Y. Blondin will be promoted Maj.-Gen. and appointed Commander    1 Canadian Air Division  [ 1 CAD ], in Winnipeg, replacing Maj.-Gen. J.M. Duval;    [ BGen Yvan Blondin was Deputy Commander, Force Generation, 1 CAD from 2007.] •  Commodore R.A. Davidson was promoted  Rear Admiral and appointed Director of    Staff - Strategic Joint Staff  at  NDHQ ... replacing Rear Admiral A.B. Donaldson;    [ Cmdre Davidson had been appointed  Chief of  Staff  ( Operations ) Canadian     Expeditionary Forces Command in 2008.] •  Brig.-Gen. D.A. Fraser will be promoted Maj.-Gen. and appointed to the Land Staff...;    [ BGen David Fraser commanded RC South from 28 Feb 2006. BGen Fraser was then    appointed Commandant of  the  Canadian Forces College,  Toronto in 2007.] •  Commodore N.S. Greenwood will be promoted Rear Admiral and appointed    Assistant Chief of  the Maritime Staff, replacing Commodore K.E. Williams;    [ Cmdre Greenwood was appointed Commander, Canadian Fleet Pacific in June 2007.] •  Brig.-Gen. A.J. Howard will be promoted Maj.-Gen. and appointed Assistant Chief    of  the Land Staff  at NDHQ, Ottawa,  replacing Maj.-Gen. G.R. Thibault;    [ BGen Alan Howard was Combined Security Transition Command Afghanistan in    2008, having previously been Commander, Land Forces Central Area HQ.] •  Brig.-Gen. T.J. Lawson will  be promoted  Maj.-Gen. and appointed Assistant Chief    of  the Air Staff  at  NDHQ, Ottawa, replacing Maj.-Gen. J.P.A. Deschamps;    [ BGen Lawson was appointed Commandant of the Royal Military College in 2007.] •  Brig.-Gen. M.E. McQuillan will be promoted Maj.-Gen. and appointed Commander    Canadian Operational Support Command ... replacing Maj.-Gen. D.J.R.S. Benjamin;    [ BGen McQuillan was appointed Assistant Chief of   Staff  ADM (Mat)  in 2007.] •  Brig.-Gen. I.C. Poulter will be promoted Maj.-Gen. and appointed Deputy Chief of    Staff Assistant Deputy Minister (Materiel) ... replacing Brig.-Gen M.E. McQuillan;    [ BGen Poulter had  been Director General  Land Staff, at  NDHQ since April 2006.] •  Brig.-Gen. J.G.J.C. Barabé will be appointed as Chief of Staff Defence Force Structure    Review at NDHQ, Ottawa;    [ BGen Barabé was made Director General Operations - Strategic Joint Staff in 2008.] •  Brig.-Gen. J.A.V.R. Blanchette will  be appointed  Director  General  Operations  -    Strategic  Joint  Staff  at  NDHQ, in Ottawa, replacing Brig.-Gen J.A.G. Champagne;    [ BGen Richard Blanchette was serving as a senior ISAF spokesman in Kandahar.] •  Brig.-Gen. J.A.G. Champagne will be appointed Deputy Commander Strategic Effects    Regional Command (South) Headquarters, in Afghanistan;    [BGen Gerry Champagne was Director Current Operations for the Strategic Joint Staff    in Afghanistan and previous Commander of 5e GSS (Groupe de soutien de Secteur).] •  Brig.-Gen. J.R. Ferron will be appointed to US  CENTCOM  HQ in Tampa, Florida;    [ BGen Jim Ferron was Director General Information Management at NDHQ in 2008.] •  Brig.-Gen. J.P.P.J. Lacroix will be appointed Deputy Commander Canada Command in    Ottawa, replacing Commodore D.P. Gagliardi;    [ BGen Jocelyn Lacroix was appointed Chief of Staff Canada Command HQ, Ottawa    in 2007 and had earlier commanded the Kabul Multi-National Brigade (KMNB).] •  Commodore J.R. MacIsaac will be appointed Director General Reserves and Cadets,    replacing Commodore J.G.V. Tremblay;    [Cmdre MacIsaac was Director General Military Careers from May 2007. Before that,    he was Commander of  the CF Recruiting Group and  Director General  Recruiting.] •  Acting Brig.-Gen. J.A.J. Parent was promoted Brig.-Gen and remained as Chief of    Staff (Operations) Canadian Expeditionary Force Command [CEFCOM] HQ, Ottawa;    [ Then-Col Parent was Director of Air Strategic Planning on the Air Staff from 2005.] •  Acting Brig.-Gen. J.G.A.J. Rousseau was promoted Brig.-Gen and will be appointed    Director of Operations Defence/International Security Foreign and Defence Policy    Secretariat at the Privy Council Office, in Ottawa, replacing Brig.-Gen P.F. Wynnyk;    [ BGen Rousseau was formerly the Deputy Chief of  Staff with ISAF HQ in Kabul.] •  Brig.-Gen. G.R. Stafford was appointed Deputy Commander Land Forces Doctrine    and Training System in Kingston, replacing Brig.-Gen R.G. Parsons who retired;    [ BGen Stafford was the Deputy Commander of Land Forces Central Area.] •  Acting Brig.-Gen. D.W. Thompson was promoted Brig.-Gen and will be appointed    Director General Land Staff at NDHQ, in Ottawa, replacing Brig.-Gen I.C. Poulter;    [ BGen Thompson, formerly Brigade Commander of  2 CMBG, assumed command     of  HQ,  Joint Task Force - Afghanistan  ( Rotation 5 ) on 13 August 2007.] •  Commodore K.E. Williams will be appointed Chief of Staff Vice Chief of the Defence    Staff at NDHQ, in Ottawa, replacing Brig.-Gen J.G.J.C. Barabé ... ;    [Cmdre Williams was appointed to Director General Strategy, NDHQ in July of 2006.] •  Brig.-Gen. P.F. Wynnyk will be appointed to the Combined Security Transition    Command, in Afghanistan, replacing Brig.-Gen A.J. Howard;    [ BGen Wynnyk was appointed Director of  Operations Defence / International Se-    curity Foreign and Defence Policy Secretariat Privy Council Office, Ottawa in 2008.] •  Col. L.E. Aitken will be promoted Brig.-Gen and appointed  Director General Land    Equipment Program Management ... replacing Brig.-Gen  J.C.M. Giguere ... ;    [ Col Larry Aitken was made Director Training and Education in 2008.] •  Col. R.J. Chekan will be promoted Brig.-Gen and appointed NORAD and US NORTH-    COM Deputy Director Plans, Policy And Strategy, in Colorado Springs, replacing    Commodore C.L. Mofford, who will be retiring;    [ Col Bob Chekan was CO of the Canadian Forces Experimentation Centre (CFEC).] •  Navy Capt. J.E.T.P. Ellis will be promoted Commodore and remain as Director General    Maritime Force Development at NDHQ, Ottawa;    [ Capt(N) Peter Ellis was previously Director Maritime Requirements (Sea), NDHQ.] •  Navy Capt. P.T.E. Finn was promoted Commodore and remained as Project Manager    Canadian Surface Combatant at NDHQ, Ottawa;    [ Capt(N) Pat Finn was Commandant of the Canadian Forces Fleet School, Halifax.] •  Col. R.D. Foster will be promoted Brig.-Gen and appointed Deputy Commander Force    Generation [...1 CAD...] in Winnipeg, Manitoba, replacing Brig.-Gen J.A.J.Y. Blondin;    [ Col  Richard Foster was Commander of  15 Wing,  Moose Jaw.] •  Col. D.C. Hilton will be promoted Brig.-Gen and appointed  Commandant  Canadian    Forces College  in Toronto, replacing  Brig.-Gen D.A. Fraser;    [ Col Craig Hilton has been the CF Military Attaché and Assistant Defence Attaché,     CDLS in Washington, DC since July 2007.] •  Navy Capt. H.W. Jung will be promoted Commodore and appointed Commander  CF    Health Services Group and  CF  Surgeon General  at  NDHQ, Ottawa,  replacing Brig.-    Gen H.F. Jaeger whose appointment remains to be confirmed;    [ Capt(N) Hans Jung was appointed  Deputy Surgeon General, CFHSG HQ, in 2007.] •  Navy Capt. D.M. MacKeigan will be promoted Commodore and appointed    Commander Canadian Forces Recruiting Group  [ CFRG ]  in Borden, Ontario;    [ Capt(N) Dan MacKeigan commanded the CF Maritime Warfare Centre, Halifax from     July 2008. Prior to that, he had  been the Chief of  Staff  ( Support ) at  CEFCOM.] •  Col. J.C. Madower will  be promoted  Brig.-Gen and appointed  Director General    Military Careers at NDHQ Ottawa, replacing Commodore J.R. MacIsaac ... ;    [ Col John Madower became Director Support Operations in the Strategic Joint Staff     in 2008.] •  Col. G.C.P. Matte will be promoted Brig.-Gen and appointed  Chief of  Staff  Canada    Command HQ in Ottawa, replacing  Brig.-Gen  J.P.P.J. Lacroix;    [ Col Matte was the Director Aerospace Requirements (DAR), having been the Wing     Commander of  4 Wing, CFB Cold Lake, since July of  2005.] •  Col. J.B.D. Menard will be promoted Brig.-Gen  ...  and  appointed Commander Joint    Task Force in Afghanistan, replacing Brig.-Gen  J.H. Vance;    [ Col Daniel Ménard was Army G3 ( Deputy COS Operations ) since June of  2007.] •  Navy Capt. M.A.G. Norman will be promoted Commodore and appointed Command-    er Canadian Fleet Pacific in Victoria, replacing Commodore N.S. Greenwood;    [ Capt(N) Norman was Director General Strategy, Chief Force Development in 2007.] •  Col. R.R. Pitre was promoted Brig.-Gen and appointed to the Air Staff at NDHQ ... ;    [ Col Rick Pitre became CO of 22 Wing and the Canadian Air Defence Sector in 2006.     Prior to that, Col Pitre had been Acting Director General Joint Force Development.] •  Col. J.G.C.Y. Rochette will be promoted Brig.-Gen. (Acting while so employed) and    appointed Director General Finance at NDHQ, Ottawa;    [Col Claude Rochette was Director Budget, Director General Financial Management     (DG Fin Mgmt) from Feb 2007. Prior to that, Col Rochette was CO of  CFSU Ottawa.] •  Col. J.G.E. Tremblay was promoted Brig.-Gen (Acting while so employed) and    appointed Deputy Commanding General US I Corps in Fort Lewis, Washington ... ;    [ Col Eric Tremblay had previously been the Commander of 5CMBG, CFB Valcartier.] •  Navy Capt. W.S. Truelove will be promoted Commodore and appointed Command-    ant Royal Military College of Canada, in Kingston, replacing Brig.-Gen T.J. Lawson.    [ Capt(N) Bill Truelove was appointed Special Assistant to the VCDS in 2007.] After distinguished service  to the CF and  Canada,  the following will complete their careers and retire from the CF Regular Force in 2009: •  Lt.-Gen. J. Arp    [ LGen Arp was appointed Chief of  Staff  to NATO's Headquarters Supreme Allied    Command Transformation, Norfolk, VA in January 2007. Reaffirmed on 18 Feb 2008.] •  Vice Admiral D.W. Robertson    [ VAdm Drew Robertson was appointed Chief of Maritime Staff  in January of  2006.] •  Lt.-Gen. W.A. Watt    [ LGen Angus Watt replaced LGen Steve Lucas as Chief of Air Staff in July of  2007.] •  Rear Admiral B.M. Weadon    [ RAdm Bryn Weadon was ADM (Finance and Corporate Services) from 2 Oct 2007.] •  Brig.-Gen. J.G.J.C. Barabé    [ BGen Barabé stays on as Chief of Staff Defence Force Structure Review at NDHQ.] •  Brig.-Gen. J.C.M. Giguère    [ BGen Giguère was the Director General Land Equipment Program Management.] •  Commodore J.R. MacIsaac    [ Cmdre Roger MacIsaac stays on as the Director General Reserves and Cadets.] •  Commodore C.L. Mofford    [ Cmdre Calvin Mofford was Deputy Director, Plans, Policy and Strategy, NORAD.] •  Brig.-Gen M.S. Skidmore    [ BGen Mark Skidmore was made Chief of  Staff  VCDS,  NDHQ Ottawa in 2008. Prior     to that, BGen Skidmore was the Commander of  Land Force Western Area (LFWA).]