Two names...

...Natynczyk and Watt.

I'm told the first has been forwarded to the politicians for the CDS slot, and the other for the VCDS position. That doesn't mean the others are out of the running - heck, we've had a reservist called back to serve a second term as CDS (as part of the Cadet Instructor Cadre, in order to sidestep mandatory retirement rules) - but it does mean there are favourites at this point.

We'll see how it shakes out.

Addendum: Apparently the only knocks on Uncle Walt are:

1. He speaks a bit too much like an American (hardly a fault in my book, but it could grate on some in Ottawa)


2. His last few jobs have been either staff or deputy (not enough higher-formation command experience)


3. He might wear the wrong coloured uniform, if the politicians don't want another Army officer in Hillier's mould running the show for the next few years.

With all that, he's still the front-runner.

I don't know why people are saying Gauthier has a real chance at the brass ring, here. This line sums up much of what I'm hearing about him: "The 'L' in Gauthier is for 'Leadership'."