Big changes at top of the CF

These changes struck me first in this list below of senior officer promotions and appointments--seems quite a shakeup:

Chief of the Maritime Staff
Chief of the Air Staff
Canada Command
Canadian Expeditionary Force Command
Canadian Operational Support Command

That means new heads for two of the three services, and three of the four "commands" around which the CF is now organized (no change at Canadian Special Operations Forces Command). Anyone have any ideas what may be up, if anything (Lt.-Gen. Watt has been CAS for less than two years)? Anything else noteworthy? Is CDS Gen. Walt Natynczyk really taking charge, some six months into the post [see Update]?

Text of the official news release:

OTTAWA, ONTARIO -- 01/26/09 -- 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 and 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 General Walter Natyncyzk, Chief of the Defence Staff. "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, who will be retiring;

- Acting Lt.-Gen. C.J.R. Davis was promoted Lt.-Gen and remained as Canadian Military Representative to NATO, in Brussels, Belgium;

- Vice Adm. P.D. McFadden will be appointed Chief of the Maritime Staff at National Defence Headerquarters (NDHQ), in Ottawa, replacing Vice Adm. D.W. Robertson, who will be retiring [had the job for three years];

- Maj.-Gen. J.P.A. Deschamps will be promoted Lt.-Gen (Acting while so employed) and appointed Chief of the Air Staff at NDHQ, in Ottawa, replacing Lt.-Gen W.A. Watt [appointed 2007--in March, that's less than two years in the job], who will be retiring;

- Rear Adm. A.B. Donaldson will be promoted Vice Adm. and appointed Commander Canada Command in Ottawa, replacing Vice Adm. P.D. McFadden [less than a year in the job];

- Maj.-Gen. J.M. Duval will be promoted Lt.-Gen and appointed Deputy Commander NORAD, in Colorado, replacing Lt.-Gen J.J.C. Bouchard;

- Maj.-Gen. J.G.M. Lessard will be promoted Lt.-Gen and appointed Commander Canadian Expeditionary Force Command, in Ottawa, replacing Lt.-Gen J.C.M. Gauthier [over three years in job];

- Maj.-Gen. D.J.R.S Benjamin will be appointed Chief of Staff Assistant Deputy Minister (Infrastructure and Environment), at NDHQ, Ottawa;

- Maj.-Gen. G.R. Thibault will be appointed Chief of Staff Assistant Deputy Minister (Information Management) at NDHQ, in Ottawa, replacing Maj.-Gen. A.G. Hines;

- Brig.-Gen. J.A.J.Y. Blondin will be promoted Maj.-Gen. and appointed Commander 1 Canadian Air Division, in Winnipeg, replacing Maj.-Gen. J.M. Duval;

- Commodore R.A. Davidson was promoted Rear Admiral and appointed Director of Staff- Strategic Joint Staff at NDHQ, in Ottawa, replacing Rear Admiral A.B. Donaldson;

- Brig.-Gen. D.A. Fraser will be promoted Maj.-Gen. and appointed to the Land Staff at NDHQ, Ottawa;

- Commodore N.S. Greenwood will be promoted Rear Admiral and appointed Assistant Chief of the Maritime Staff, replacing Commodore K.E. Williams;

- 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;

- 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;

- Brig.-Gen. M.E. McQuillan will be promoted Maj.-Gen. and appointed Commander Canadian Operational Support Command in Ottawa, replacing Maj.-Gen. D.J.R.S. Benjamin [three years in job];

- Brig.-Gen. I.C. Poulter will be promoted Maj.-Gen. and appointed Deputy Chief of Staff Assistant Deputy Minister (Materiel) at NDHQ, Ottawa, replacing Brig.-Gen M.E. McQuillan;

- Brig.-Gen. J.G.J.C. Barabe will be appointed as Chief of Staff Defence Force Structure Review at NDHQ, Ottawa;

- 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;

- Brig.-Gen. J.A.G. Champagne will be appointed Deputy Commander Strategic Effects Regional Command (South) Headquarters, in Afghanistan;

- Brig.-Gen. J.R. Ferron will be appointed to US CENTCOM HQ in Tampa, Florida;

- Brig.-Gen. J.P.P.J. Lacroix will be appointed Deputy Commander Canada Command in Ottawa, replacing Commodore D.P. Gagliardi;

- Commodore J.R. MacIsaac will be appointed Director General Reserves and Cadets, replacing Commodore J.G.V. Tremblay;

- Acting Brig.-Gen. J.A.J. Parent was promoted Brig.-Gen and remained as Chief of Staff (Operations) Canadian Expeditionary Force Command Headquarters, in Ottawa;

- 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;

- 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;

- 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;

- 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. Barabe who will component transfer to the Primary Reserve;

- Brig.-Gen. P.F. Wynnyk will be appointed to the Combined Security Transition Command, in Afghanistan, replacing Brig.-Gen A.J. Howard;

- Col. L.E. Aitken will be promoted Brig.-Gen and appointed Director General Land Equipment Program Management at NDHQ, in Ottawa, replacing Brig.-Gen J.C.M. Giguere who will be retiring;

- Col. R.J. Chekan will be promoted Brig.-Gen and appointed NORAD and US NORTHCOM Deputy Director Plans, Policy And Strategy, in Colorado Springs, replacing Commodore C.L. Mofford, who will be retiring;

- Navy Capt. J.E.T.P. Ellis will be promoted Commodore and remain as Director General Maritime Force Development at NDHQ, Ottawa;

- Navy Capt. P.T.E. Finn was promoted Commodore and remained as Project Manager Canadian Surface Combatant at NDHQ, Ottawa;

- Col. R.D. Foster will be promoted Brig.-Gen and appointed Deputy Commander Force Generation 1 Canadian Air Division HQ in Winnipeg, Manitoba, replacing Brig.-Gen J.A.J.Y. Blondin;

- Col. D.C. Hilton will be promoted Brig.-Gen and appointed Commandant Canadian Forces College in Toronto, replacing Brig.-Gen D.A. Fraser;

- 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;

- Navy Capt. D.M. MacKeigan will be promoted Commodore and appointed Commander Canadian Forces Recruiting Group in Borden, Ontario;

- Col. J.C. Madower will be promoted Brig.-Gen and appointed Director General Military Careers at NDHQ Ottawa, replacing Commodore J.R. MacIsaac who will component transfer to the Primary Reserve;

- 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. J.B.D. Menard will be promoted Brig.-Gen (Acting while so employed) and appointed Commander Joint Task Force in Afghanistan, replacing Brig.-Gen J.H. Vance;

- Navy Capt. M.A.G. Norman will be promoted Commodore and appointed Commander Canadian Fleet Pacific in Victoria, replacing Commodore N.S. Greenwood;

- Col. R.R. Pitre was promoted Brig.-Gen and appointed to the Air Staff at NDHQ, Ottawa;

- Col. J.G.C.Y. Rochette will be promoted Brig.-Gen. (Acting while so employed) and appointed Director General Finance at NDHQ, 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 State; and

- Navy Capt. W.S. Truelove will be promoted Commodore and appointed Commandant Royal Military College of Canada, in Kingston, replacing Brig.-Gen T.J. Lawson.

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

- Vice Admiral D.W. Robertson

- Lt.-Gen. W.A. Watt

- Rear Admiral B.M. Weadon

- Brig.-Gen. J.G.J.C. Barabe

- Brig.-Gen. J.C.M. Giguere

- Commodore J.R. MacIsaac

- Commodore C.L. Mofford

- Brig.-Gen M.S. Skidmore

For more information on senior appointments at National Defence, please visit: www.cmp-cpm.forces.gc.ca/dsa-dns/index-eng.asp.

Update: An ooops! Vice Adm. P.D. McFadden's less than a year at Canada Command has led to his becoming head of the Navy. My implication above of an ouster was a result of my not paying enough attention (via Ex-Dragoon--at the Army.ca thread on the subject) .