{{Short description|Canadian general (born 1968)}} {{Use Canadian English|date=October 2018}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2018}} {{Infobox military person | honorific_prefix = General | name = Jennie Carignan | honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=CAN|CMM|MSC|MSM|CD|size=100%}} | image = General Jennie Carignan in 2024 (cropped).jpg | alt = Official portrait, head and shoulder shot with a middle-aged woman with short white hair, wearing a dark uniform and medals. | caption = Carignan in 2024 | birth_name = Marie Annabelle Jennie Carignan | birth_date = {{birth year and age|1968}} | birth_place = Asbestos, Quebec, Canada | death_date = | death_place = | burial_place = | allegiance = {{flagu|Canada}} | branch = {{army|Canada}} | service_years = 1986–present | rank = General | service_number = | unit = | commands = Chief of the Defence Staff (2024–present)<br />Chief, Professional Conduct and Culture (2021–2024)<br />Commander, NATO Mission Iraq (2019–2020)<br />Chief of Staff of Army Operations (2016–2018) | battles = | awards = {{ublist|Commander of the Order of Military Merit|Meritorious Service Medal|Canadian Forces' Decoration|Officer of the Legion of Merit (United States)}} | spouse = Eric Lefrançois | children = 4 | relatives = | alma_mater = {{plainlist| * Royal Military College of Canada (BEng) * Université Laval (MBA) * United States Army Command and General Staff College (ILE, MMAS) }} }} General '''Marie Annabelle Jennie Carignan''' (born 1968) is a Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) officer who has served as Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS) since July 2024. Born in Quebec, Carignan graduated as a military engineer from the Royal Military College of Canada (RMCC) in Kingston, Ontario.<ref name=review>{{Cite book |title=La Revue 1990 Review |year=1990 |editor-last=Babij |editor-first=Orest |edition=1990 |pages=210 |language=French}}</ref> She served as an officer in combat engineering regiments in various Canadian military actions in the 1990s and 2000s including the Golan Heights, Bosnia and Afghanistan. As a full colonel, Carignan became Commandant of the Royal Military College Saint-Jean in 2013.
When Carignan was promoted to brigadier-general, in June 2016, she became the first Canadian female general from a combat command. She was promoted again in 2019, to major-general, and commanded NATO forces in Iraq. In 2021, she was promoted to lieutenant-general, and became CAF’s first chief for Professional Conduct and Culture. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced she would become the first woman to serve as CDS on 3 July 2024. The appointment and promotion to general took effect on 18 July 2024, with the change of command ceremony.
== Early life, education, and family == Marie Annabelle Jennie Carignan was born in 1968, and grew up in Asbestos, Quebec, in a French-speaking household.<ref name="maclean">{{cite news | last1 = Campbell | first1 = Meagan |title=Meet the world's first female combat general |url=http://www.macleans.ca/news/canada/jennie-carignan-will-be-the-first-female-general-from-the-combat-arms-trades/|accessdate=26 November 2017|work=Maclean’s| location = Toronto| publisher = Rogers Communications|date=3 June 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240306062211/https://macleans.ca/news/canada/jennie-carignan-will-be-the-first-female-general-from-the-combat-arms-trades/ | archive-date = 6 March 2024 | url-status = live | quote = In June, 2016, Carignan, then 47, was promoted to the rank of brigadier-general (a one-star general).}}</ref> Growing up, the only career she considered aside from the military was dancing as she had learned ballet, lyrical and jazz dancing from the age of eight.<ref name=maclean/> She joined the Canadian Armed Forces in 1986 and graduated as a military engineer from the Royal Military College of Canada (RMCC) in Kingston, Ontario.<ref name=review/>
She received a commission in 1990 and served at the Canadian Forces Bases of Chilliwack and Valcartier.<ref name="mil">{{cite press release | author = PMO Staff |date=3 July 2024 |title=Lieutenant-General Jennie Carignan, CMM, MSC, MSM, CD |url=https://www.pm.gc.ca/en/news/backgrounders/2024/07/03/lieutenant-general-jennie-carignan-cmm-msc-msm-cd |accessdate=5 July 2024 |agency = Office of the Prime Minister | publisher = King’s Printer for Canada | location = Ottawa | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240705114242/https://www.pm.gc.ca/en/news/backgrounders/2024/07/03/lieutenant-general-jennie-carignan-cmm-msc-msm-cd | archive-date = 5 July 2024 | url-status = live }}</ref> Carignan married Eric Lefrançois in 1990, having met while in the same platoon at military college and taking ballroom dance classes together while there.<ref name=maclean/> He later retired from the army to look after their four children.<ref name=maclean/> Two of their children, a son and a daughter, are also serving in the CAF.<ref name=mil/>
==Military career== ===Junior and senior officer=== She served as a peacekeeper in the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force in Golan Heights in 1993. She was to be posted to the United Nations Protection Force in Bosnia in 1995 but had to withdraw after becoming pregnant.<ref name=maclean/> Carignan was promoted to major in 1999 and awarded a Master of Business Administration degree from Laval University.<ref name="mil" /> She has also completed the Intermediate Learning Education (ILE) program at the United States Army Command and General Staff College and holds the degree of Master of Military Art and Science (MMAS) from the college's School of Advanced Military Studies.<ref name=mil/>
She deployed to Bosnia in 2002 to clear explosive ordnance from farmers' fields.<ref name=maclean/> Carignan became the first female deputy commander of a combat arms unit when she became deputy commanding officer and acting commander of 5 Combat Engineer Regiment in 2003.<ref name="First female deputy commander">{{cite news |last1=Bell |first1=Stewart |title=Female soliders are a force to be reckoned with |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/national-post-female-soldiers-area-a-for/151055314/ |access-date=10 July 2024 |work=National Post |publisher=Post Media |date=26 October 2011 |location=Toronto |page=A8 | via = Newspapers.com}}</ref> She was promoted to the rank of lieutenant-colonel in 2005.<ref name=mil/>
Carignan served as an instructor at the Canadian Land Force Command and Staff College in Kingston, Ontario, before she returned to 5 Combat Engineer Regiment as commanding officer in 2008.<ref name=mil/> Between 2009 and 2010 she commanded the Task Force Kandahar Engineer Regiment in Afghanistan,<ref name="Commander 2009">{{cite news |last1=Fisher |first1=Matthew |title=Canadian advised U.S. on women in combat |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/calgary-herald-canadian-advised-us-on/151057977/ |access-date=10 July 2024 |work=Calgary Herald |publisher=Postmedia |date=28 January 2013 |location=Calgary, Alberta |page=A9 | via = Newspapers.com}}</ref> being appointed deputy commander of 5 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group upon her return.<ref name="maclean" /><ref name=mil/>
Carignan was promoted to colonel in June 2011 and appointed chief of staff of Joint Task Force Central. In May 2012 she, and several other female Canadian Armed Forces members, toured Australia giving talks about their combat experiences in an effort to help promote women in combat positions, something Australia was still contemplating at the time.<ref name="Tour of Australia">{{cite news |last1=Ditchburn |first1=Jennifer |title=Canadian women share combat experiences |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/waterloo-region-record-canadian-woment-s/151056772/ |access-date=10 July 2024 |work=Waterloo Region Record |agency=The Canadian Press |publisher=Metroland Media |date=26 May 2012 |location=Waterloo, Ontario |page=A13 | via = Newspapsers.com}}</ref> In July 2013, Carignan became commandant of the Royal Military College Saint-Jean and in the same year received the Hermès Award for excellence in administration.<ref name=mil/> Carignan introduced sexual conduct training for all officer candidates and also reintroduced ballroom dance classes which had been discontinued in the 1990s.<ref name="maclean" />
===General officer=== [[File:Canadian Major General Jennie Carignan and British Major General Gerald Strickland visit Camp Taji 7.jpg|thumb|right|Major General Carignan visiting Camp Taji, Iraq, in 2020]] Carignan was promoted to brigadier-general on 15 June 2016 and appointed chief of staff of army operations.<ref name = "promotion to brig-gen 2016">{{cite web|title=Brigadier-General Jennie Carignan becomes highest-ranked female officer in the Combat Arms of the Canadian Army – Canada.ca|date = 16 June 2016|url=https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/news/2016/06/brigadier-general-jennie-carignan-becomes-highest-ranked-female-officer-in-the-combat-arms-of-the-canadian-army.html?wbdisable=true|publisher=Government of Canada|accessdate=19 September 2024|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190120043244/https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/news/2016/06/brigadier-general-jennie-carignan-becomes-highest-ranked-female-officer-in-the-combat-arms-of-the-canadian-army.html?wbdisable=true| archive-date = 20 January 2019 | url-status =live}}</ref> She became the first female Canadian general from a combat (as opposed to technical) arm.<ref name=maclean/> Carignan was promoted to the rank of major-general on 15 August 2019 ahead of taking command of a training mission in Iraq.<ref name = "Major-General Promotion">{{cite news | author = CTV Montreal Staff |title=Brigadier-General promoted to Major-General |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/montreal/article/brigadier-general-promoted-to-major-general/ |access-date= 5 July 2024 |work=CTV News | location = Montreal | publisher = Bell Media| date=13 August 2019 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201108034430/https://montreal.ctvnews.ca/brigadier-general-promoted-to-major-general-1.4547795 | archive-date = 8 November 2020 | url-status = live}}</ref>
She was promoted to lieutenant-general in 2021 upon her appointment to the newly created position of Chief for Professional Conduct and Culture,<ref>{{cite web |title=Chief, Professional Conduct and Culture |url=https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/corporate/organizational-structure/chief-professional-conduct-culture.html |website=canada.ca |date=29 April 2021 |publisher=Government of Canada |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210430092110/https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/corporate/organizational-structure/chief-professional-conduct-culture.html |access-date=30 April 2021|archive-date=30 April 2021 }}</ref> with the responsibility of preventing sexual assault in the military.<ref name = "Professional Conduct General">{{Cite news|last1 = Turnbell | first1 = Sarah | url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/article/feds-initiate-independent-review-into-sexual-misconduct-in-the-military/|title = Feds initiate independent review into sexual misconduct in the military| work=CTV News | location = Montreal | publisher = Bell Media | date = 29 April 2021 | access-date = 5 July 2024 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230208213948/https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/feds-initiate-independent-review-into-sexual-misconduct-in-the-military-1.5407336 | archive-date = 8 February 2023| url-status = live }}</ref>
On 28 June 2024, news broke that Carignan would succeed General Wayne Eyre as Chief of the Defence Staff upon his retirement in July 2024.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ling |first=Philip |date=28 June 2024 |title=Lt.-Gen. Jennie Carignan chosen as next chief of the defence staff |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/carignan-new-chief-defence-1.7249581 |access-date=29 June 2024 |work=CBC News}}</ref> The official announcement from the Prime Minister’s Office occurred on 3 July 2024, and included the mention that she would be promoted to the rank of full general.<ref name="Appointment to Defence Chief">{{cite news |last1=Aziz |first1=Saba |title=Lt.-Gen. Jennie Carignan will be Canada's 1st female defence chief |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/10601652/jennie-carignan-new-chief-of-defence-canada/ |access-date=5 July 2024 |work=Global News |publisher=Corus Entertainment |date=3 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240704024221/https://globalnews.ca/news/10601652/jennie-carignan-new-chief-of-defence-canada/ |archive-date=4 July 2024 |location=Toronto | url-status = live}}</ref><ref name="CDS Official Announcement">{{cite press release | author = PMO Staff |date=3 July 2024 | title = Prime Minister announces the upcoming appointment of the new Chief of the Defence Staff |url= https://www.pm.gc.ca/en/news/news-releases/2024/07/03/prime-minister-announces-upcoming-appointment-new-chief-defence-staff |access-date = 5 July 2024 |agency = Prime Minister's Office| publisher = King’s Printer for Canada | location = Ottawa | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240704130400/https://www.pm.gc.ca/en/news/news-releases/2024/07/03/prime-minister-announces-upcoming-appointment-new-chief-defence-staff | archive-date = 4 July 2024 | url-status = live }}</ref> Her appointment makes her the first female head of a national military force in any of the Five Eyes allied countries.<ref name="Five Eyes">{{cite news |last1=Racine |first1=Jean-Francois |title=Une première femme pour diriger les Forces armées |url=https://www.journaldemontreal.com/2024/07/06/la-lieutenante-generale-jennie-carignan-sera-la-premiere-femme-a-diriger-les-forces-armees-canadiennes |access-date=7 July 2024 |work=Le Journal de Montréal |publisher=Quebecor |date=6 July 2024 |location=Montreal |language=French | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240706065209/https://www.journaldemontreal.com/2024/07/06/la-lieutenante-generale-jennie-carignan-sera-la-premiere-femme-a-diriger-les-forces-armees-canadiennes | archive-date = 6 July 2024 | url-status = live}}</ref> Her promotion took effect on 18 July 2024, at the change in command ceremony held at the Canadian War Museum with Governor General Mary Simon officiating.<ref name="Change-in-command date 2024">{{cite news |last1=Richie |first1=Sarah |title=Lt.-Gen. Jennie Carignan to take helm as first woman in Canadian military's top job |url=https://toronto.citynews.ca/2024/07/03/lt-gen-jennie-carignan-named-canadas-newest-chief-of-the-defence-staff/ |access-date=5 July 2024 |work=CityNews |agency=The Canadian Press |publisher=Rogers Communications |date=3 July 2024 |location=Toronto }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/new-chief-of-defence-staff-change-in-command-ceremony-1.7266382|title=Gen. Jennie Carignan makes history as Canada's newest chief of the defence staff|last1=Burke|first1=Ashley|last2=Major|first2=Darren | work = CBC News | publisher=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation | location = Toronto | date=18 July 2024|access-date=18 July 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240718185257/https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/new-chief-of-defence-staff-change-in-command-ceremony-1.7266382|archive-date=18 July 2024|url-status=live}}</ref> {{-}} == Honours and decorations == Carignan has received the following orders and decorations during her military career:<ref>{{cite web |url=https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/db/General_Jennie_Carignan_in_2024_%28cropped%29.jpg|title=Photo of Jennie Carignan}}</ref>
<div class="center"> 100px100px 100px <br /> 100px 100px 100px 100px <br /> 100px 100px100px 100px </div> {| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto;" !Ribbon !Description !Notes |- |40px||Order of Military Merit (CMM)|| * Appointed Officer (OMM) on 1 June 2016 * Promoted to Commander (CMM) on 21 September 2020 |- |left|frameless|40px |Meritorious Service Cross (MSC)|| * Awarded on 16 June 2021 |- |40px||Meritorious Service Medal (MSM)|| * Awarded on 2 April 2011 |- |40px||General Campaign Star|| * South-West Asia * With Rotation Bar |- |frameless|40px |General Campaign Star – EXPEDITION | * Operation IMPACT in Iraq |- |40px |Canadian Peacekeeping Service Medal | |- |left|frameless|40px |UN Disengagement Observation Force (UNDOF) | |- |40px |NATO Medal for the former Yugoslavia | |- |left|frameless|40px |Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal | |- |40px |Canadian Forces' Decoration (CD) | * with two Clasp for 32 years of service |- |40px |Legion of Merit – United States | * Officer * Awarded 3 June 2022 |}
She received an Honorary degree from Université Laval in 2019, and is a fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://widgets.cae-acg.ca/feeds/directory/directory/action/Listing/value/1291/searchID/680251/cid/1498/id/2201/Carignan%2c-Marie%2c-Annabelle-(Jennie)|title=Carignan, Marie, Annabelle (Jennie)|work=Directory of Fellows|publisher=Canadian Academy of Engineering|access-date=2025-05-25}}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons category|position=left}}
{{s-start}} {{s-mil}} {{s-bef|before=Wayne Eyre}} {{s-ttl|title=Chief of the Defence Staff|years=2024–present}} {{s-inc}} {{s-end}}
{{Chief of the Defence Staff (Canada)}} {{Canadian Armed Forces}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Carignan, Jennie}} Category:1968 births Category:Living people Category:Canadian generals Category:Canadian military engineers Category:Canadian female military personnel Category:Female army generals Category:Chiefs of the Defence Staff (Canada) Category:Canadian military personnel from Quebec Category:United States Army Command and General Staff College alumni Category:Université Laval alumni Category:Royal Military College Saint-Jean alumni Category:Academic staff of the Royal Military College Saint-Jean Category:Foreign recipients of the Legion of Merit Category:Commanders of the Order of Military Merit (Canada) Category:Recipients of the Meritorious Service Decoration Category:Canadian military personnel of the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021) Category:Fellows of the Canadian Academy of Engineering