{{short description|Institutional head of the Canadian Army}} {{Use Canadian English|date=May 2026}} {{Infobox official post | post = Commander | body = the Canadian Army and Chief of the Army Staff | insignia = | insigniasize = | insigniacaption = | insigniaalt = | flag = Flag of the Chief of the General Staff (Canada).svg | flagsize = | flagalt = Flag of the Chief of the General Staff | flagborder = | flagcaption = Flag of the Chief of the General Staff | image = | imagesize = | alt = | imagecaption = | incumbent = Lieutenant-General Michael Wright | acting = | incumbentsince = 13 July 2024 | department = {{army|Canada}} | style = | type = Army commander | status = | abbreviation = CCA | member_of = Armed Forces Council<br />Army Staff | reports_to = Chief of the Defence Staff | residence = | seat = | nominator = | appointer = | appointer_qualified = | termlength = genderp=~}}}} Majesty's pleasure | termlength_qualified = | constituting_instrument = | precursor = Chief of the Land Staff | formation = 1875 (as General Officer Commanding the Militia)<br />2011 (as Commander of the Army) | first = Sir E.S. Smyth (as General Officer Commanding the Militia)<br />Peter Devlin (as Commander of the Army) | last = | abolished = | succession = | unofficial_names = | deputy = Deputy Commander of the Canadian Army | salary = | website = {{Official|https://www.canada.ca/en/army/corporate/senior-leaders/commander.html}} | footnotes = }}
'''Commander of the Canadian Army''' ({{langx|fr|commandant de l'Armée canadienne}}) is the title of the institutional head of the Canadian Army. This appointment also includes the title of '''Chief of the Army Staff''' ({{langx|fr|links=no|chef d'état-major de l'Armée}}) and is based at National Defence Headquarters in Ottawa, Ontario.
==History of the position== Prior to 1904, militia forces in Canada were commanded by senior British Army officers appointed as '''General Officer Commanding the Canadian Militia'''.<ref>[http://utpjournals.metapress.com/content/k23p5h6368065076/ British Strategic Withdrawal from the Western Hemisphere, 1904–1906] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120720010846/http://utpjournals.metapress.com/content/k23p5h6368065076/ |date=2012-07-20 }} University of Toronto Press</ref> British regular forces in the Dominion had their own commander until the withdrawal of the last British garrison in 1906. From 1903 to 1904, the Canadian Militia embarked on a new period of modernization that included the creation of a new office of '''Chief of the General Staff'''. Between 1904 and 1964, eighteen officers held the position of Chief of the General Staff, with the last of these, Lieutenant General Geoffrey Walsh, having officially stood down the appointment on 31 August 1964 following the official integration of the three armed services into a single Canadian Armed Forces.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.armycadethistory.com/biography_LGen_Walsh.htm |title=Lieutenant-General Geoffrey Walsh|publisher=Army cadet history|access-date=31 January 2019}}</ref>
Following the unification of Canada's military forces<ref>[http://www.navalandmilitarymuseum.org/resource_pages/controversies/unification.html Integration and Unification of the Canadian Forces] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100115015948/http://www.navalandmilitarymuseum.org/resource_pages/controversies/unification.html |date=January 15, 2010 }}</ref> in February 1968, the majority of Canada's land element was assigned to the newly created Force Mobile Command and the senior Canadian army officer was then known as '''Commander of Mobile Command''' from 1965 to 1993. The command was renamed Land Force Command, and its senior officer was known as '''Chief of the Land Staff''' from 1993 to 2011.<ref>[http://www.journal.forces.gc.ca/vo8/no1/doc/godefroy-eng.pdf ''Chasing the Silver Bullet: the Evolution of Capability Development in the Canadian Army'' by Major Andrew B. Godefroy CD, Page 59]</ref> Land Force Command was officially re-designated as the Canadian Army in 2011, at which time the appointment was also renamed Commander of the Canadian Army to reflect this.<ref>[http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2011/08/15/canadian-navy-air-force-royal-name-change_n_927257.html Canadian Navy, Air Force 'Royal' Again With Official Name Change] Huffington Post, 15 August 2011</ref>
==Appointees== The following table lists all those who have held the post of Commander of the Canadian Army or its preceding positions. Ranks and honours are as at the completion of their tenure:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.canada.ca/en/army/services/history/commanders-army.html|title=List of commanders of the Army|publisher=Government of Canada|access-date=14 March 2020}}</ref> {{Officeholder table start | showorder = y | showimage = y | image_title = Portrait | showtermlenght = y | showparty = n | showdefencebranch = n | showref = n }} |-style="text-align:center;" !colspan=6|'''General Officer Commanding the Canadian Militia''' {{Officeholder table | order = 1 | image = Edward Selby Smyth.jpg | military_rank = Lieutenant-General | officeholder = Sir Edward Selby Smyth | officeholder_sort = Smyth, E. | officeholder_note = | born_year = 1819 | died_year = 1896 | term_start = 1875 | term_end = 1880 | timeinoffice = {{age in years|1875|1880}} years }} {{Officeholder table | order = 2 | image = Richard Luard.jpg | military_rank = Major-General | officeholder = Richard Luard | officeholder_sort = Luard, R. | officeholder_note = | born_year = 1827 | died_year = 1891 | term_start = 1880 | term_end = 1884 | timeinoffice = {{age in years|1880|1884}} years }} {{Officeholder table | order = 3 | image = FrederickMiddleton.jpg | military_rank = Major-General | officeholder = Sir Frederick Dobson Middleton | officeholder_sort = Middleton, F. | officeholder_note = | born_year = 1825 | died_year = 1898 | term_start = 1884 | term_end = 1890 | timeinoffice = {{age in years|1884|1890}} years }} {{Officeholder table | order = 4 | image = Ivor John Caradoc Herbert.jpg | military_rank = Major-General | officeholder = Ivor Herbert | officeholder_sort = Treowen, I. | officeholder_note = | born_year = 1851 | died_year = 1933 | term_start = 1890 | term_end = 1895 | timeinoffice = {{age in years|1890|1895}} years }} {{Officeholder table | order = 5 | image = | military_rank = Major-General | officeholder = Sir William Gascoigne | officeholder_sort = Gascoigne, W. | officeholder_note = | born_year = 1844 | died_year = 1926 | term_start = 1895 | term_end = 1898 | timeinoffice = {{age in years|1895|1898}} years }} {{Officeholder table | order = 6 | image = Gen Sir Edward Hutton.jpg | military_rank = Major-General | officeholder = Sir Edward Hutton | officeholder_sort = Hutton, E. | officeholder_note = | born_year = 1848 | died_year = 1923 | term_start = 1898 | term_end = 1900 | timeinoffice = {{age in years|1898|1900}} years }} {{Officeholder table | order = 7 | image = Richard hebden lt col o'grady haly.jpg | military_rank = Major-General | officeholder = Richard O'Grady Haly | officeholder_sort = Haly, R. | officeholder_note = | born_year = 1841 | died_year = 1911 | term_start = 1900 | term_end = 1902 | timeinoffice = {{age in years|1900|1902}} years }} {{Officeholder table | order = 8 | image = 12th Earl of Dundonald.jpg | military_rank = Major-General | officeholder = The Rt Hon. Earl of Dundonald | officeholder_sort = Dundonald, D. | officeholder_note = | born_year = 1852 | died_year = 1935 | term_start = 1902 | term_end = 1904 | timeinoffice = {{age in years|1902|1904}} years }} |-style="text-align:center;" !colspan=6|'''Chief of the General Staff''' {{Officeholder table | order = 1 | image = PercyLake.jpg | military_rank = Major-General | officeholder = Sir Percy Lake | officeholder_sort = Lake, P.H.N. | officeholder_note = | born_year = 1855 | died_year = 1940 | term_start = 1904 | term_end = 1908 | timeinoffice = {{age in years|1904|1908}} years }} {{Officeholder table | order = 2 | image = William Dillon Otter.jpg | military_rank = Major-General | officeholder = Sir William Otter | officeholder_sort = Otter, W.D. | officeholder_note = | born_year = 1843 | died_year = 1929 | term_start = 1908 | term_end = 1910 | timeinoffice = {{age in years|1908|1910}} years }} {{Officeholder table | order = 3 | image = | military_rank = Major-General | officeholder = Sir Colin Mackenzie | officeholder_sort = Mackenzie, C. J. | officeholder_note = | born_year = 1861 | died_year = 1956 | term_start = 1910 | term_end = 1913 | timeinoffice = {{age in years|1910|1913}} years }} {{Officeholder table | order = 4 | image = | military_rank = Major-General | officeholder = Sir Willoughby Gwatkin | officeholder_sort = Gwatkin, W.G. | officeholder_note = | born_year = 1859 | died_year = 1925 | term_start = 1913 | term_end = 1920 | timeinoffice = {{age in years|1913|1919}} years }} {{Officeholder table | order = 5 | image = James Howden MacBrien.jpg | military_rank = Major-General | officeholder = Sir James MacBrien | officeholder_sort = MacBrien, J. H. | officeholder_note = | born_year = 1878 | died_year = 1938 | term_start = 1920 | term_end = 1927 | timeinoffice = {{age in years|1920|1927}} years }} {{Officeholder table | order = 6 | image = Major-General H.C. Thacker (fragment).jpg | military_rank = Major-General | officeholder = Herbert Cyril Thacker | officeholder_sort = Thacker, H. C. | officeholder_note = | born_year = 1870 | died_year = 1953 | term_start = 1927 | term_end = 1929 | timeinoffice = {{age in years|1927|1929}} years }} {{Officeholder table | order = 7 | image = McNaughton E010778731-v8.jpg | military_rank = Major-General | officeholder = Andrew McNaughton | officeholder_sort = McNaughton, A. G. L. | officeholder_note = | born_year = 1887 | died_year = 1966 | term_start = 1929 | term_end = 1935 | timeinoffice = {{age in years|1929|1935}} years }} {{Officeholder table | order = 8 | image = | military_rank = Major-General | officeholder = Ernest Charles Ashton | officeholder_sort = Ashton, E. C. | officeholder_note = | born_year = 1873 | died_year = 1957 | term_start = 1935 | term_end = 1938 | timeinoffice = {{age in years|1935|1938}} years }} {{Officeholder table | order = 9 | image = | military_rank = Major-General | officeholder = Thomas Victor Anderson | officeholder_sort = Anderson, T. V. | officeholder_note = | born_year = 1881 | died_year = 1972 | term_start = 1938 | term_end = 1940 | timeinoffice = {{age in years|1938|1940}} years }} {{Officeholder table | order = 10 | image = Crerar e010750463-v8.jpg | military_rank = Major-General | officeholder = Harry Crerar | officeholder_sort = Crerar, H. D. G. | officeholder_note = | born_year = 1888 | died_year = 1965 | term_start = 1940 | term_end = 1941 | timeinoffice = {{age in years|1940|1941}} years }} {{Officeholder table | order = 11 | image = Kenneth Stuart.jpg | military_rank = Lieutenant-General | officeholder = Kenneth Stuart | officeholder_sort = Stuart, K. | officeholder_note = | born_year = 1891 | died_year = 1945 | term_start = 1941 | term_end = 1943 | timeinoffice = {{age in years|1941|1943}} years }} {{Officeholder table | order = 12 | image = | military_rank = Lieutenant-General | officeholder = John Carl Murchie | officeholder_sort = Murchie, J. C. | officeholder_note = | born_year = 1895 | died_year = 1966 | term_start = 1944 | term_end = 1945 | timeinoffice = {{age in years|1944|1945}} years }} {{Officeholder table | order = 13 | image = LGen Charles Foulkes.jpg | military_rank = Lieutenant-General | officeholder = Charles Foulkes | officeholder_sort = Foulkes, C. | officeholder_note = | born_year = 1903 | died_year = 1969 | term_start = 1945 | term_end = 1951 | timeinoffice = {{age in years|1945|1951}} years }} {{Officeholder table | order = 14 | image = Guy Simonds e010786106-v8.jpg | military_rank = Lieutenant-General | officeholder = Guy Simonds | officeholder_sort = Simonds, G. G. | officeholder_note = | born_year = 1903 | died_year = 1974 | term_start = 1951 | term_end = 1955 | timeinoffice = {{age in years|1951|1955}} years }} {{Officeholder table | order = 15 | image = Photograph of Howard Douglas Graham (1898-1986) (12236467744).jpg | military_rank = Lieutenant-General | officeholder = Howard Graham | officeholder_sort = Graham, H. D. | officeholder_note = | born_year = 1898 | died_year = 1986 | term_start = 1955 | term_end = 1958 | timeinoffice = {{age in years|1955|1958}} years }} {{Officeholder table | order = 16 | image = | military_rank = Lieutenant-General | officeholder = Samuel Findlay Clark | officeholder_sort = Clark, S. F. | officeholder_note = | born_year = 1909 | died_year = 1998 | term_start = 1958 | term_end = 1961 | timeinoffice = {{age in years|1958|1961}} years }} {{Officeholder table | order = 17 | image = | military_rank = Lieutenant-General | officeholder = Geoffrey Walsh | officeholder_sort = Walsh, G. | officeholder_note = | born_year = 1909 | died_year = 1999 | term_start = 1961 | term_end = 1964 | timeinoffice = {{age in years|1961|1964}} years }} |-style="text-align:center;" !colspan=6|'''Commander of Mobile Command''' {{Officeholder table | order = 1 | image = General-Allard-NCSM-QUÉBEC.jpg | military_rank = Lieutenant-General | officeholder = Jean Victor Allard | officeholder_sort = Allard, J. V. | officeholder_note = | born_year = 1913 | died_year = 1996 | term_start = 1965 | term_end = 1966 | timeinoffice = {{age in years|1965|1966}} years }} {{Officeholder table | order = 2 | image = | military_rank = Lieutenant-General | officeholder = William Anderson | officeholder_sort = Anderson, W. | officeholder_note = | born_year = 1915 | died_year = 2000 | term_start = 1966 | term_end = 1969 | timeinoffice = {{age in years|1966|1969}} years }} {{Officeholder table | order = 3 | image = | military_rank = Lieutenant-General | officeholder = Gilles Turcot | officeholder_sort = Turcot, G. | officeholder_note = | born_year = 1917 | died_year = 2010 | term_start = 1969 | term_end = 1972 | timeinoffice = {{age in years|1969|1972}} years }} {{Officeholder table | order = 4 | image = | military_rank = Lieutenant-General | officeholder = William A. Milroy | officeholder_sort = Milroy, W. | officeholder_note = | born_year = 1920 | died_year = 2006 | term_start = 1972 | term_end = 1973 | timeinoffice = {{age in years|1972|1973}} years }} {{Officeholder table | order = 5 | image = | military_rank = Lieutenant-General | officeholder = Stanley Waters | officeholder_sort = Waters, S. | officeholder_note = | born_year = 1920 | died_year = 1991 | term_start = 1973 | term_end = 1975 | timeinoffice = {{age in years|1973|1975}} years }} {{Officeholder table | order = 6 | image = | military_rank = Lieutenant-General | officeholder = Jacques Chouinard | officeholder_sort = Chouinard, J. | officeholder_note = | born_year = 1922 | died_year = 2008 | term_start = 1975 | term_end = 1977 | timeinoffice = {{age in years|1975|1977}} years }} {{Officeholder table | order = 7 | image = | military_rank = Lieutenant-General | officeholder = Jean Jacques Paradis | officeholder_sort = Paradis, J. J. | officeholder_note = | born_year = 1928 | died_year = 2007 | term_start = 1977 | term_end = 1981 | timeinoffice = {{age in years|1977|1981}} years }} {{Officeholder table | order = 8 | image = | military_rank = Lieutenant-General | officeholder = Charles H. Belzile | officeholder_sort = Belzile, C. H. | officeholder_note = | born_year = 1933 | died_year = 2016 | term_start = 1981 | term_end = 1986 | timeinoffice = {{age in years|1981|1986}} years }} {{Officeholder table | order = 9 | image = | military_rank = Lieutenant-General | officeholder = Jim Fox | officeholder_sort = Fox, J. | officeholder_note = | born_year = | died_year = | term_start = 1986 | term_end = 1989 | timeinoffice = {{age in years|1986|1989}} years }} {{Officeholder table | order = 10 | image = | military_rank = Lieutenant-General | officeholder = Kent Foster | officeholder_sort = Foster, K. | officeholder_note = | born_year = 1938 | died_year = | term_start = 1989 | term_end = 1991 | timeinoffice = {{age in years|1989|1991}} years }} {{Officeholder table | order = 11 | image = | military_rank = Lieutenant-General | officeholder = Jim Gervais | officeholder_sort = Gervais, J. | officeholder_note = | born_year = 1938 | died_year = | term_start = 1991 | term_end = 1993 | timeinoffice = {{age in years|1991|1993}} years }} |-style="text-align:center;" !colspan=6|'''Chief of the Land Staff''' {{Officeholder table | order = 1 | image = | military_rank = Lieutenant-General | officeholder = Gord Reay | officeholder_sort = Reay, G. | officeholder_note = | born_year = 1943 | died_year = 2000 | term_start = 1993 | term_end = September 1996 | timeinoffice = {{age in years|1993|1996}} years }} {{Officeholder table | order = 2 | image = Maurice Baril.JPG | military_rank = Lieutenant-General | officeholder = Maurice Baril | officeholder_sort = Baril, M. | officeholder_note = | born_year = 1943 | died_year = | term_start = September 1996 | term_end = September 1997 | timeinoffice = {{age in years and months|1996|09|1|1997|09|1}} }} {{Officeholder table | order = 3 | image = | military_rank = Lieutenant-General | officeholder = William Leach | officeholder_sort = Leach, W. | officeholder_note = | born_year = 1942 | died_year = 2015 | term_start = September 1997 | term_end = August 2000 | timeinoffice = {{age in years and months|1997|09|1|2000|08|1}} }} {{Officeholder table | order = 4 | image = | military_rank = Lieutenant-General | officeholder = Mike Jeffery | officeholder_sort = Jeffery, M. | officeholder_note = | born_year = | died_year = | term_start = August 2000 | term_end = May 2003 | timeinoffice = {{age in years and months|2000|08|1|2003|05|1}} }} {{Officeholder table | order = 5 | image = Rick Hillier in Colorado.png | military_rank = Lieutenant-General | officeholder = Rick Hillier | officeholder_sort = Hillier, R. | officeholder_note = | born_year = 1955 | died_year = | term_start = May 2003 | term_end = 4 February 2005 | timeinoffice = {{age in years and months|2003|05|1|2005|02|04}} }} {{Officeholder table | order = 6 | image = | military_rank = Lieutenant-General | officeholder = Marc Caron | officeholder_sort = Caron, M. | officeholder_note = | born_year = 1954 | died_year = | term_start = 4 February 2005 | term_end = June 2006 | timeinoffice = {{age in years and months|2005|02|04|2006|06|1}} }} {{Officeholder table | order = 7 | image = Wizyta kanadyjskiego gen. broni Andrew B. LESLIE w 16 Dywizji Zmech (3) (cropped).jpg | military_rank = Lieutenant-General | officeholder = Andrew Leslie | officeholder_sort = Leslie, A. | officeholder_note = | born_year = 1957 | died_year = | term_start = June 2006 | term_end = June 2010 | timeinoffice = {{age in years and months|2006|06|1|2010|06|1}} }} {{Officeholder table | order = 8 | image = Kacee Vasudeva and Lieutenant General Peter Devlin, CMM, MSC, CD (cropped).JPG | military_rank = Lieutenant-General | officeholder = Peter Devlin | officeholder_sort = Devlin, P. | officeholder_note = | born_year = | died_year = | term_start = June 2010 | term_end = 21 July 2011 | timeinoffice = {{age in years and months|2010|06|1|2011|07|21}} }} |-style="text-align:center;" !colspan=6|'''Commander of the Canadian Army and Chief of the Army Staff''' {{Officeholder table | order = 1 | image = | military_rank = Lieutenant-General | officeholder = Peter Devlin | officeholder_sort = Devlin, P. | officeholder_note = | born_year = | died_year = | term_start = 21 July 2011 | term_end = July 2013 | timeinoffice = {{age in years and months|2011|07|21|2013|07|1}} }} {{Officeholder table | order = 2 | image = 130911-065 U.S. Army Chief of Staff Gen. Ray Odierno meets Canadian Army Commander Lt. Gen. Marquis Hainse (cropped).jpg | military_rank = Lieutenant-General | officeholder = Marquis Hainse | officeholder_sort = Hainse, M. | officeholder_note = | born_year = 1964 | died_year = | term_start = July 2013 | term_end = January 2016 | timeinoffice = {{age in years and months|2013|07|1|2016|01|1}} }} {{Officeholder table | order = 3 | image = LGen-Wynnyk.jpg | military_rank = Lieutenant-General | officeholder = Paul Wynnyk | officeholder_sort = Wynnyk, P. | officeholder_note = | born_year = 1964 | died_year = | term_start = January 2016 | term_end = 16 July 2018 | timeinoffice = {{age in years and months|2016|01|1|2018|07|16}} }} {{Officeholder table | order = 4 | image = I Corps Command sergeant major returns from Afghanistan 121613-A-LN529-002 (cropped).jpg | military_rank = Lieutenant-General | officeholder = Jean-Marc Lanthier | officeholder_sort = Lanthier, J. | officeholder_note = | born_year = | died_year = | term_start = 16 July 2018 | term_end = 20 August 2019 | timeinoffice = {{age in years and months|2018|07|16|2019|08|20}} }} {{Officeholder table | order = 5 | image = Wayne Eyre.jpg | military_rank = Lieutenant General | officeholder = Wayne Eyre | officeholder_sort = Eyre, W. | born_year = | died_year = | term_start = 20 August 2019 | term_end = 16 June 2022 | timeinoffice = {{age in years and months|2019|08|20|2022|06|16}} }} {{Officeholder table | order = 6 | image = | military_rank = Lieutenant-General | officeholder = Jocelyn Paul | officeholder_sort = Paul, J. | born_year = | died_year = | term_start = 16 June 2022 | term_end = 13 July 2024 | timeinoffice = {{age in years and months|2022|06|16|2024|07|13}} }} {{Officeholder table | order = 7 | image = | military_rank = Lieutenant-General | officeholder = Michael Wright | officeholder_sort = Wright, M. C. | officeholder_note = | born_year = | died_year = | term_start = 13 July 2024 | term_end = Incumbent | timeinoffice = {{age in years and months|2024|07|13}} }} {{Officeholder table end}}
==See also== * Chief of the Defence Staff, the second most senior member of the Canadian Armed Forces after the Commander-in-Chief * Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy, institutional head of the Royal Canadian Navy * Commander of the Royal Canadian Air Force, institutional head of the Royal Canadian Air Force
==References== {{Reflist|30em}}
==External links== * {{Official|https://www.canada.ca/en/army/corporate/senior-leaders/commander.html}}
{{Canadian Forces}} {{Canadian Army}} {{Chief of the army by country}}
Category:Canadian Armed Forces Category:Military appointments of Canada Category:Army chiefs of staff Category:Commanders of the Canadian Army