Lieutenant General Natynczyk Appointed as Chief of the Defence Staff

Our New Chief of Defence Staff (CDS)

Lieutenant General Natynczyk

The Honourable Peter Gordon MacKay, Minister of National Defence and Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, welcomed the Prime Minister's announcement today appointing Lt.-Gen. Walt Natynczyk as the new Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS). The appointment will be effective following the Change of Command ceremony which will take place in the coming weeks."I am very pleased that the command of the Canadian Forces is now being passed to the very capable hands of Lt.-Gen. Natynczyk, said Minister MacKay. "Lt.-Gen. Natynczyk assumes the position at a very important time for the Canadian Forces. His leadership and experience will be invaluable as we continue to move forward with the Canada First Defence Strategy and our mission in Afghanistan. I have complete confidence in his ability to build on the foundation laid by General Rick Hillier."
Lt.-Gen. Natynczyk joined the Canadian Forces in August 1975. He attended Royal Roads Military College and College Militaire Royal in St Jean, graduating in 1979 with a degree in Business Administration. Upon completion of Canadian Forces Command and Staff College, he served on the Army Staff in St-Hubert, Quebec. Lt.-Gen. Natynczyk assumed the responsibilities of the Vice Chief of the Defence Staff on 28 June 2006."I'm deeply honoured to receive this appointment," said Lt.-Gen. Natynczyk. "It is truly a privilege to lead the men and women of the Canadian Forces who give so much to their country."General Hillier, who announced his retirement on April 15 after three years of being CDS, expressed confidence in Lt.-Gen. Natynczyk's ability to lead the Canadian Forces. "I have never worked with a finer officer than Lt.-Gen. Natynczyk. He has all the skills, experience and values to command the Canadian Forces and will have my full support. I congratulate him on his appointment and will hand over to him with the full knowledge that he will continue to adapt, and improve our Forces to accomplish the tasks Canadians need us to perform."


A native of Winnipeg, LGen Natynczyk joined the Canadian Forces in August 1975. He attended Royal Roads Military College and Collège Militaire Royal in St Jean, graduating in 1979 with a degree in Business Administration degree. His formative years were spent on NATO duty in Germany with The Royal Canadian Dragoons in troop command and staff appointments.
In 1983, LGen Natynczyk assumed duties as a Squadron Commander at the Royal Military College in Kingston, Ontario. In 1986, he commenced a five-year regimental tour in Petawawa, serving in several staff and squadron command appointments; this tour included six months of UN peacekeeping duties in Cyprus. On completion of Canadian Forces Command and Staff College, he served on the Army Staff in St Hubert Quebec.
In May 1994, LGen Natynczyk embarked upon a year-long tour with the United Nations in the Former Yugoslavia as Sector South-West Chief of Operations in Bosnia and Herzegovina within HQ 7 (UK) Armoured Brigade, then as the Chief of Land Operations, UNPROFOR HQ in Zagreb, Croatia. In June 1995 LGen Natynczyk was assigned to the Vice Chief of the Defence Staff within National Defence HQ in Ottawa. He then commanded his regiment for two years, leading the Dragoons during domestic operations in the Ottawa region during the 1998 Ice Storm. LGen Natynczyk returned to Bosnia in 1998 as the Canadian Contingent Commander. On his return to Ottawa in March 1999 he was appointed J3 Plans and Operations during the period of deployments to Kosovo, Bosnia, East Timor and Eritrea.
LGen Natynczyk attended the U.S. Army War College and was subsequently appointed Deputy Commanding General, III Corps and Fort Hood. In January 2004, he deployed with III Corps to Baghdad, Iraq, serving first as the Deputy Director of Strategy, Policy and Plans and subsequently as the Deputy Commanding General of the Multi-National Corps (Iraq). Upon his return to Canada he assumed command of the Land Force Doctrine and Training System. He was subsequently appointed Chief Transformation where he was responsible for implementation of the force restructuring and the enabling processes and policies.
LGen Natynczyk assumed the responsibilities of the Vice Chief of the Defence Staff on 28 June 2006.
Yes boys.. it'a a fellow soldier!