Meet Jennie Carignan, Canada’s 1st Woman Chief Of The Defence Staff, To Take Over On July 18

Canada on Wednesday appointed a woman as the nation’s top soldier for the first time. Lieutenant general Jennie Carignan, leading efforts to eradicate sexism and misconduct in the armed forces, will assume the role of chief of the defense staff on July 18, Reuters reported. “Over the course of her career, her exceptional leadership qualities, commitment to excellence, and dedication to service have been a tremendous asset to our Armed Forces,” Canada PM Justin Trudeau said in a statement.

She replaces General Wayne Eyre, who is retiring after 40 years of service and has held the top military job since 2021. Lt.-Gen. Carignan, who will be promoted to the rank of general, will officially take up her duties during a change-of-command ceremony on July 18 at the Canadian War Museum.

Carignan takes over at a time when Canada is under pressure from allies to ramp up its defense spending. The armed forces are struggling to meet recruitment goals and have been slow to replace outdated equipment. Last November the head of the navy said the service was in “a critical state” and might not be able to carry out its basic duties in 2024.

Who is Lt. Gen. Jennie Carignan

Carignan, who is currently chief of Professional Conduct and Culture and will be promoted to the rank of general, will replace the current chief of the Defence Staff, Gen. Wayne Eyre, who is retiring from the CAF, Trudeau said in a news release on Wednesday.

Carignan’s military career spans over 35 years and includes commanding two Combat Engineer Regiments and the 2nd Canadian Division, where she led more than 10,000 soldiers, Xinhua news agency reported, citing the release.

In 2008, Carignan became the first woman in the CAF history to command a combat arms unit. She deployed to Afghanistan the following year, and also served in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Syria. From 2019 to 2020, she led NATO Mission Iraq.

She was promoted to her current rank in 2021 and has served for the past three years as chief of Professional Conduct and Culture, leading efforts to transform the military culture.

Carignan, originally a military engineer, has commanded troops in Afghanistan, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Iraq and Syria during her 35 years in the army.

Lt.-Gen. Carignan is a three-star general with a reputation for excellent service. She served as chief of staff of army operations and held senior roles at National Defence headquarters.