Former Kandahar Combat Commander Named As Canada's Next Defence Chief

Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Defence Minister Jason Kenney say Lt.-Gen. Jonathan Vance will be the next chief of defence staff, replacing the soon-to-retire Gen. Tom Lawson.

 

Harper says Vance takes over at an important time, when the country is part of a coalition fighting extremists in Iraq and Syria and as measures are being taken to reassure eastern European allies in the face of Russian aggression.

 

"I'm sure Gen. Vance will do a tremendous job for this vital national institution," said the prime minister, who noted that the transition will not take place for a couple of months.

 

Vance twice led the army’s task force in Kandahar during the Afghan war.

 

Lawson, a former fighter pilot, announced earlier this year that he would step down after two-and-a-half years in the job.

 

Vance currently serves as the country’s joint operations commander and has been the face of high-profile public briefings on the combat mission against the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant.

 

Aside from twice being task force commander in Kandahar – in 2009 and again in 2010 – Vance has also served in other key posts, including head of the strategic joint staff, the military’s nerve centre in Ottawa.