Jonathan Vance
General Jonathan Holbert "Jon" Vance CMM MSC CD[1] (born January 3, 1964)[2] is a Canadian Army general who serves as Chief of the Defence Staff of the Canadian Armed Forces.
Jonathan Vance | |
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![]() Vance in 2018 | |
Birth name | Jonathan Holbert Vance |
Nickname(s) | Jon |
Born | Kingston, Ontario, Canada | January 3, 1964
Allegiance | Canada |
Service/ | Canadian Army |
Years of service | 1982–present |
Rank | General |
Commands held |
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Battles/wars | War in Afghanistan Military intervention against ISIL |
Awards | Commander of the Order of Military Merit Meritorious Service Cross Canadian Forces Decoration |
Alma mater | Royal Roads Military College Royal Military College of Canada |
Military career
![](../I/m/2017_Halifax_International_Security_Forum_(26715198669)_(cropped)_Jonathan_Vance_and_Hulusi_Akar.jpg)
Born in Kingston, Ontario,[3] Vance joined the Canadian Armed Forces in 1982 and was commissioned as an infantry officer upon graduation from Royal Roads Military College in 1986.[4][5] He served as deputy commander of the Allied Joint Force Command Naples, and Commander of the Canadian Task Force in Kandahar, Afghanistan in 2009 and 2010.[6][7] He went on to be Commander of the Canadian Joint Operations Command in September 2014 and Chief of Defence Staff on July 17, 2015.[6]
Vance holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Military and Strategic Studies from Royal Roads Military College, and a Master of Arts degree in War Studies from the Royal Military College of Canada.[8]
On July 23, 2020, Vance announced his intention to retire as Chief of Defence Staff after 5 years in office, and will serve until his replacement is named. Despite being a potential candidate for an upcoming vacancy as Chairman of the NATO Military Committee, the federal government announced its intention not to pursue the competition.[9]
Family
His father, Jack Vance, was a Canadian Lieutenant-General who had been the Vice Chief of Defence Staff in 1985.[10]
Honours and decorations
Vance has received the following orders and decorations during his military career:
Ribbon | Description | Notes |
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![]() | Order of Military Merit (CMM) | |
![]() | Meritorious Service Cross (MSC) |
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![]() | General Campaign Star |
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![]() | Special Service Medal |
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![]() | Canadian Peacekeeping Service Medal | |
![]() | UNPROFOR | |
![]() | Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal |
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![]() | Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal |
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![]() | Canadian Forces Decoration (CD) |
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![]() | Commander of the National Order of the Legion of Honour |
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![]() | Order of Viesturs, First Class |
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Commander of the National Order of the Star of Romania |
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- General Vance Has Received the Canadian Forces Parachutist Badge.
- By virtue of his position, he serves as an Aide-de-camp to the Governor General of Canada, and as such he wears the Gold Aiguillette to denote this.
References
- Media Advisory: Governor General to Present 45 Military Decorations at Rideau Hall Marketwire (December 9, 2011).
- "General Jonathan Vance". NATO. Retrieved February 19, 2018.
- "Chief of Defence Staff". Retrieved August 6, 2015.
- Lee Berthiaume. "All eyes on new commander as military faces significant challenges". Ottawa Citizen. Retrieved July 20, 2015.
- "Lt.-Gen. Jonathan Vance appointed next chief of defence staff". cbc.ca. April 27, 2015. Retrieved July 20, 2015.
- "Afghan vet Jonathan Vance eyed for top general post". thestar.com. April 2, 2015. Retrieved July 20, 2015.
- "Gen. Jonathan Vance becomes chief of defence staff, vows to tackle harassment". cbc.ca. July 17, 2015. Retrieved July 20, 2015.
- "Chief of the Defence Staff". Government of Canada. Retrieved March 14, 2017.
- Brewester, Murray (July 23, 2020). "Gen. Jonathan Vance, chief of the defence staff, announces retirement". CBC News. Retrieved July 25, 2020.
- "Jonathan Vance: 6 Facts About Canada's Next Defence Chief". Huffington Post. April 27, 2015. Retrieved March 14, 2017.
- "Canada Gazette" (PDF). June 13, 2009.
- "The Governor General of Canada > Find a Recipient". gg.ca. Retrieved July 23, 2015.
- "The Governor General of Canada > Find a Recipient". gg.ca. Retrieved July 23, 2015.
- "Mention in Dispatches". Governor General of Canada. Retrieved September 28, 2015.
- "The Governor General of Canada > Find a Recipient". gg.ca. Retrieved July 23, 2015.
- "The Governor General of Canada > Find a Recipient". gg.ca. Retrieved July 23, 2015.
- "Awards to Canadians". canadagazette.gc.ca. Retrieved January 11, 2020.
- Government of Canada, Public Works and Government Services Canada (September 29, 2018). "Canada Gazette, Part 1, Volume 152, Number 39: GOVERNMENT HOUSE". canadagazette.gc.ca.
- "Awards to Canadians". canadagazette.gc.ca. Retrieved January 11, 2020.
External links
Military offices | ||
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Preceded by Tom Lawson |
Chief of the Defence Staff (Canada) 2015–present |
Succeeded by Incumbent |
Preceded by Stuart Beare |
Commander of the Canadian Joint Operations Command September 2014 – June 2015 |
Succeeded by Stephen Bowes |