Canada Names First Female Chief of Defense Staff

Canada has, for the first time, names a female as the head of its military.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Wednesday appointed Lieutenant-General Jennie Carignan as the Chief of Defense Staff, to take office effective on July 18, 2024.

Carignan has commanded troops in Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria during her 35 years in service. In 2008, she became the first female soldier to lead a combat force in the Canadian military. Carignan is a highly decorated soldier and mother of four children, two of whom serve in the Canadian Armed Forces.

“I am confident that, as Canada’s new chief of the Defense Staff, she will help Canada be stronger, more secure, and ready to tackle global security challenges”, said Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at a press conference in Montreal.

Currently leading the military’s reform efforts as the head of conduct and culture change, she will take over from retiring General Wayne Eyre.

“Over the cause of her career, her exceptional leadership qualities, commitment to excellence, and the dedication to service have been a tremendous asset to our Armed Forces,” said Trudeau.

Carignan joined the armed forces in 1986, three years before Canada allowed women in combat roles. In 1993, she served as a peacekeeper in the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force in Golan Heights.

In 2003, she served as the deputy commanding officer and acting commander of 5 Combat Engineer Regiment and was promoted to the rank of lieutenant-colonel in 2005. She was named one of Canada’s 100 most powerful women by the Women’s Executive Network in 2011.

Carignan introduced sexual conduct training for all officer candidates and also reintroduced ballroom dance classes which was discontinued in the 1990s.

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