Chief of the Defence Staff Announces Additional 2024 Colonel Promotions, Appointments and Retirements

Article shared from the Canadian Military Family Magazine:  https://www.cmfmag.ca/policy/chief-of-the-defence-staff-announces-additional-2024-colonel-promotions-appointments-and-retirements/

Furthering the August 2024 announcements of Captain (Navy) and Colonel promotions, the Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS) General Jennie Carignan announced additional promotions, appointments and retirements.

In her announcement, Carignan gave a nod to retirements that will or have occurred while also acknowledging new appointees in a new military memo.

“I wish to offer my deepest appreciation for the service and sacrifices of those officers and their families as they transition from the CAF, and I offer my heartfelt congratulations and sincerest best wishes to those assuming new appointments and new responsibilities,” reads CANFORGEN 014/25.

There were a number of notable promotions and appointments in this recent announcement. For example, Col. N.K. Isenor was appointed Military Judge by Her Excellency the Governor General in Council on the recommendation of the Minister of National Defence.

Additionally, Col. A.B. Battista was appointed Chief of Staff, Canadian Forces Military Police Group Headquarters, in Ottawa, replacing Col.R.R. Chenard.

Additional Appointments and Promotions

According to the CANFORGEN, the following are the additional appointments and promotions:

• Col. J.T. Adair was appointed J7 Liaison Officer Forward, Operation UNIFIER, in Wiesbaden, Germany.
• Col. R.A. Bailey was appointed J4, at Canadian Joint Operations Command, in Ottawa, replacing Col. M.A. Shamas.
• Col. S.P.C. Blouin will proceed to the Advanced Training List to attend the Developmental Period Four Programme, at the Australian Defence Security Studies Course, in Canberra, Australia.
• Col. D. Boivin was appointed Director Information Capability Requirements, in Ottawa, replacing Col. M. Roy.
• Col. J.T. Braithwaite, acting while so employed, was appointed Defence Attaché Republic of Kenya, in Nairobi, replacing Col.D.C.D. Hilton.
• Col. J.F. Claveau, acting while so employed, was appointed Joint Targeting and Effects (J7), at the Canadian Joint Operations Command, in Ottawa.
• Col. P.A. Frost was appointed Chief of Staff, Office of the Judge Advocate General, in Ottawa, replacing Col. D.E. Sinclair.
• Col. J.A.M. Gagne, acting while so employed, will be promoted substantive Colonel and will remain Army Comptroller, in Ottawa.
• Capt. (Navy) G.L.G. Lafrance was appointed Director Innovation and Digital Navy, in Ottawa.
• Col. M.H. Laplante was appointed Commander of the Special Operations Component Command, in Ottawa.
• Col. K. Larocque was appointed Canadian Task Force Commander Democratic Republic of Congo, in Africa, replacing Colonel K.R. Purdy.
• Col. D.K. McDonald will be appointed Director of Programmes, at Canadian Forces College, in Toronto, replacing Colonel S.P.C. Blouin.
• Col. L.M. Pacarynuk was appointed Director Chaplain Operations, in Ottawa, replacing Colonel C. Pigeon.
• Col. M. Roy was appointed Director Information Management Project Planning and Control, in Ottawa, replacing Col. J.C. Walkling.
• Col. M.A. Shamas was appointed G5 at the Canadian Army Headquarters, in Ottawa, replacing Colonel I. Miedema.
• Col. D.E. Sinclair was appointed Vice Judge Advocate General, in Ottawa.
• Col. J.K. Smith was appointed Deputy Commander Joint Force Cyber Component Command, in Ottawa, replacing Col. D.R. Blanc.
• Col. S.S. Strickey was appointed Military Judge by Her Excellency the Governor General in Council, on the recommendation of the Minister of National Defence.
• Col. J.D. Summerfield was appointed to a new position as Director Foresight and Concept Development at Chief of Force Development, in Ottawa.
• Col. D.J.D.R. Tanguay was appointed Chief of Staff Military Personnel Generation Group, in Ottawa, replacing Col. M.J. Crosby.
• Col. A.J. Vivian was appointed Director Capability Integration, in Ottawa, replacing Col. E.S. Vandahl.
• LCol. S. Bouchard was promoted Colonel and appointed Deputy Judge Advocate General Regional Services, in Ottawa, replacing Col. J.D. Wry.
• LCol. J.M.J. Brassard will be promoted Colonel and appointed Commander 35 Canadian Brigade Group, in Quebec, replacing Col. D.J.E. Roussel.
• LCol. G. Chretien was promoted Colonel, acting while so employed, and appointed Defence Attaché Korea, in Seoul.
• LCol. R.J. Corby was promoted Colonel and appointed Director Leadership Support Team, in Ottawa, replacing Col.  K. Larocque.
• Commander C.J. Deschenes was designated Chief Military Judge by Her Excellency the Governor General in Council, on the recommendation of the Minister of National Defence, and was promoted Captain (Navy), acting while so employed.
• LCol. S.A. Fowler was promoted Colonel and appointed Director Joint Readiness, at Canadian Joint Operations Command, in Ottawa.
• LCol. J.D. Gilchrist was promoted Colonel and appointed Special Advisor Security and Force Protection, at Canadian Joint Operations Command, in Ottawa, replacing Col. A.B. Battista.
• LCol. A.M. Grodecki was promoted Colonel, acting while so employed, and appointed Acting Director Mental Health, in Ottawa, replacing Capt. (Navy) W.F.A. Brockway.
• LCol F.J.A. Lauzier was promoted Col and appointed Director Joint Communications Information Systems, in Ottawa, replacing Col D. Boivin.
• Cdr A.R.P. Lippe was promoted Capt (N) and appointed Deputy Judge Advocate General Reserves, in Ottawa.
• LCol M.E. Lubiniecki will be promoted Col and appointed Director Health Services Personnel, replacing Col D.K. McDonald, in Ottawa.
• LCol G.M. McLeod was promoted Col and appointed Director Military Personnel Generation Integration, in Ottawa.
• LCol J.S. Morin was promoted Col and appointed Director Chaplain Services, in Ottawa, replacing Col Pacarynuk.
• LCol G.M. Mundy was promoted Col and proceeded to the Advanced Training List to attend the Developmental Period Four Programme at Canadian Forces College, in Toronto.
• LCol S.M. Owens was promoted Col and appointed Deputy Director General Digital Transformation Program, in Ottawa.
• LCol M.D.M. Raymond was promoted Col and appointed Deputy Judge Advocate General Military Justice, in Ottawa, replacing Col N.K. Isenor.
• LCol M.E.P. Tremblay was promoted Col and appointed Deputy Judge Advocate General Operational and International Law, in Ottawa.
• LCol J.D.R.S. Tremblay was promoted Col and appointed Regional Liaison Officer Quebec, in Montreal.
• LCol J.P.S. Vouligny was promoted Col and appointed Deputy Commander, Canadian Forces Military Police Group, in Ottawa, replacing Col T.A. Murphy.

Retirements

The following officers retired or will retire:

• Col. D.R. Blanc
• Col. M.J. Crosby
• Col. L.Y. Dahl
• Col. P.N. Feuerherm
• Col. D.Y. Gendreau
• Col. I. Miedema
• Col. L.E. Noonan
• Col. D.J.E. Roussel
• Col. P.R.T. Rowe
• Col. E.S. Vandahl
• Capt. (Navy) J.L. Watkins.

The CANFORGEN noted, “All officers are to forward an updated biography in French and English and an updated photograph, as applicable, with head and shoulders in service dress uniform wearing their rank to NDHQ/DSA COORD.”