Stag Special
The first Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) senior promotions and appointments of General and Flag Officers for 2023 have been announced by CDS Gen Wayne Eyre.
The requirement for General and Flag Officers is driven by the need to lead defence priorities at the institutional level, create and sustain a diverse and inclusive culture, and project leadership abroad.
MGen Lise Bourgon has been promoted to the rank of lieutenant-general and remains Acting Chief Military Personnel and Acting Commander Military Personnel Command (CMP/CMPC) in Ottawa.
Now LGen Bourgon joined the military in 1987 under the ROTP training plan and was selected to attend Le College Militaire Royal de St-Jean where she graduated in 1992 with a Bachelor degree in Business Administration.
Following wings training in Moose Jaw, Sask., in 1994, she was posted to Nova Scotia-based 423 Maritime Helicopter Squadron at CFB Shearwater, where she served on HMCS Preserver, NCSM Ville De Quebec and HMCS Toronto. In 1998, she was transferred to 406 Maritime Operational Training Squadron, where she served as a pilot instructor.
Following her promotion to major in 2001, she was posted to Ottawa in the Directorate of Air Requirements – Maritime as a project director working on projects such as the Maritime helicopter program and the self-defence program.
She was posted back to 423 Maritime Helicopter Squadron in 2004 to serve as the Detachment Commander on HMCS Montreal. Following her deployment, she was appointed as the Wing Plans and Tasks Officer in 2005. She graduated from the Joint Command and Staff program at the Canadian Force College in Toronto in 2007.
Following her promotion to lieutenant-colonel, she was appointed the Commanding Officer (CO) of 406 Maritime Operational Training Squadron in 2007 and served at CFB Shearwater until July 2009, when she was chosen to be the Executive Assistant (EA) to the Chief of the Air Staff in Ottawa.
In June 2011, she was promoted to colonel and posted as the NATO Liaison Officer at the NATO Air Headquarters in Ramstein, Germany. After only two years in Germany, she was appointed as the new 12 Wing Commander at CFB Shearwater. Following her tour as Wing Commander, she was promoted to the rank of brigadier-general and deployed as the Joint Task Force Commander for Op IMPACT.
Upon her return from deployment, she was assigned to Canada Joint Operational Command as the Chief of Operations. In August 2016, she was transferred to the Strategic Joint Staff as Director General Operations. In 2018, she assumed the duties of Chief of Staff (COS), Operations at the Canadian Joint Operations Command (CJOC).
In 2021, she completed a one-year Defence Fellowship assignment with the Centre of International and Defence and Policy at Queens’ University in Kingston, Ont. Since April 21, she is assigned as the Deputy Commander of Military Personnel Command. In addition to her daily job, LGen Bourgon is the Canadian Armed Forces Women, Peace, and Security champion.
LGen Bourgon is a graduate of Air Warfare College, holds a Master Certificate in Project Management from George Washington University and a Master in Public Administration from the Royal Military College of Canada.
Additional General and Flag Officer promotions and appointments announced via CANFORGEN 070/23 for those at the rank of rear-admiral/major-general and below will be available in the near future on the General and Flag Officer website.
The CAF’s evolving promotion process is continuing to ensure that inclusive leaders who embody the CAF’s professional values and ethos are chosen.
Promotion candidates completed an evidence-based character assessment. Promotion candidates then underwent a “360 degree” evaluation known as the multi-rater assessment.
This approach uses a diverse group of evaluators to reduce bias and foster diverse perspectives to obtain a holistic perspective of the candidate’s leadership behaviour and effectiveness.
Additionally, the promotion candidate is subject to an interview conducted by a third party, external to Department of National Defence (DND) and CAF, which focuses on personal experiences, self awareness, past challenges, failures and successes.
Further promotions, appointments, and retirements will be announced when they have been confirmed. This includes the announcement of the new BComd arriving this summer to replace current BComd LCol Chris Wood.
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In October 2021, the CAF took its first steps to introduce new rigour and science to its promotion selection process. This has allowed the CAF to improve the promotion selection process, beginning with General, Flag Officers.
This sets the stage for an ongoing evolution of the CAF’s appointment to command and promotion process to be more inclusive and to ensure those selected embody CAF ethics and values.
“We are making improvements to the selection process for promotions and appointments, and refining our performance-evaluation process, so that they can be more effective and inclusive. Character traits such as integrity, humility, and empathy will be encouraged and valued, playing an equal part along with performance for our leaders. This will strengthen our ability, through the selection process, to identify the best leaders for the right positions while ensuring that those selected truly embody CAF ethos and values,” said Gen Wayne Eyre.
Currently, the CAF has introduced an evidence-based framework for character-based leader assessments to provide a broader lens in support of selection and promotion processes.
As a first step, candidates on the General Officer and Flag Officer (GOFO) selection boards complete three online psychometric assessments. The first assessment is a non-verbal measure of general cognitive ability/reasoning — a core component of character, geared to the senior leader level.
The second assessment is a personality inventory which measures various aspects of personality commonly associated with success in organizations.
Finally, candidates complete an assessment of leadership skills which is commonly used in executive selection processes. The results of these assessments contribute to a military member’s overall score.
Candidates who are recommended to the Minister of National Defence for promotion to or within the GOFO Cadre will also be subject to a post-selection confirmation step using what is known as a “360 degree” assessment tool.
This is a process which collects feedback from multiple evaluators regarding an individual’s leadership effectiveness. In order to obtain a holistic perspective of the candidate’s leadership behaviours and effectiveness, raters are chosen for the candidate from a diverse group as possible.
“General and Flag Officers share the responsibility for the stewardship of our institution, and for the profession of arms as a whole,” said LGen Frances Allen, Vice Chief of the Defence Staff. “Our evolving assessment framework is a step forward in enhancing the CAF’s overall efforts toward positive culture change.”
Across all selection boards this year, additional efforts are being made to reduce bias and foster diverse perspectives. Key amongst the initiatives are a Gender-Based Analysis Plus (GBA+) review of scoring criteria and the inclusion of at least one voting member from a designated group such as a woman, visible minority or Indigenous member of the Defence Team.
Research and consultation is underway to develop an evidence-based framework for character-based assessments which can be expanded to other leadership ranks in the coming years. The intent is to expand the framework to major/lieutenant-commander and sergeant/petty officer 2nd Class and above levels.
The introduction of these changes to the promotion and selection process will accompany the forthcoming implementation of the CAF’s new electronic-based appraisal system — Performance and Competency Evaluation (PaCE) — with an overall end state of selecting inclusive leaders who embody the CAF’s professional values and ethos.
The promotion of an officer to the rank of commodore/brigadier-general or to any higher rank requires the approval of the Minister of National Defence on the recommendation of the CDS.
The CDS approves the GOFO employment plan based on advice from Armed Forces Council Executive, which is comprised of all serving vice-admirals/lieutenant-generals.
How many GOFOs are there? The number of GOFO positions fluctuates as priorities evolve to support institutional priorities and the objectives of the Government of Canada which often demand the most senior and experienced CAF leaders be employed in key roles across a broad spectrum of international and domestic military positions.
Although there has been an increased demand for CAF GOFOs to assume positions with our Allies and partners, as well as with other Government departments, every position is scrutinized through the lens of span of control, expertise and the results (including national influence) it creates.
As of Jan. 1 this year, there are 138 permanent and temporary Regular Force and Primary Reserve positions in the GOFO establishment.
The CAF is structured to have 631 Regular Force members per one GOFO, which makes us lighter at the top when compared to like-sized military forces of some of our closest Commonwealth Allies.
The DND is working to build a Defence Team which comprises members who reflect the rich diversity of Canada and who are recognized and encouraged to contribute through their unique experiences, abilities and perspectives.
While we know that developing this diverse force starts at recruitment and continues with addressing issues associated with retention, the CAF continues to provide professional development and advancement opportunities to deserving women and members from other underrepresented communities at all ranks. We are committed to promoting diversity through professional development, and by providing leadership opportunities and merited promotions that better represent the rich diversity of Canada.
Here’s the list currently as of Jan. 1:
Gen Wayne Eyre, CDS
LGen S.J.R. Whelan Pending Formal Assignment
LGen F.J. Allen Vice CDS
Vice-Admiral J.R. Auchterlonie Commander Canadian Joint Operations Command
Vice-Admiral A.I. Topshee Commander RCN
Vice-Admiral S.E.G. Bishop Military Representative of Canada to NATO
LGen M.A.J. Carignan Chief Professional Conduct and Culture
LGen E.J. Kenny Commander RCAF
LGen S.R. Kelsey Deputy Commander Allied Joint Force Command Naples
LGen J.P.A. Pelletier Deputy Commander North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD)
LGen J.J.M.J. Paul Commander Canadian Army
LGen Lise Bourgon Acting Chief of Military Personnel and Acting Commander Military Personnel Command
MGen P.S. Dawe Special Assistant to the Vice CDS
MGen J.S.S.D. Fortin Senior Advisor to Commander Canadian Joint Operations Command
MGen J.P.H.H. Gosselin Transition from the CAF
MGen D.C. Aitchison Commander Canadian Defence Academy
MGen D.D. Basinger COS Assistant Deputy Minister (Material)
MGen J.A.S. Bernard Director General Military Personnel – Strategic
Rear-Admiral G. Bernatchez Judge Advocate General
MGen J.G.M. Bilodeau Surgeon General
MGen J.M.S. Boivin Commander Canadian Special Operations Forces Command
Rear-Admiral C.F. Sutherland Deputy Commander Military Personnel Command/Assistant Chief of Military Personnel
MGen J.B.P. Carpentier Director of Operations NORAD Headquarters
Rear-Admiral D.A. Charlebois Director General Future Ship Capability
MGen B.F. Frawley Deputy Vice CDS
MGen (Ret’d) Rick Goodyear Chief Financial Management / Deputy Chief Financial Officer (former BComd CFB Shilo)
Rear-Admiral J.M.S. Hamilton Chief of Programme
MGen M. Gros-Jean Chief of Staff Assistant Deputy Minister (Infrastructure & Environment)
MGen P.K. Scott COS Canadian Joint Operations Command
Rear-Admiral L. Carosielli COS Assistant Deputy Minister (Information Management)
MGen S.T. Boyle Deputy Commander Continental United States NORAD Region
MGen C.R. Keiver Deputy Commander RCAF
MGen P.J. Peyton Chief of Force Development
MGen I.S. Huddleston Commander 1 Canadian Air Division
MGen D.A. Macaulay United States Central Command (CENTCOM) Vice J3
MGen S.Y. Menard Chief of Fighter Capability
MGen C.J.J. Mialkowski Deputy Commander Canadian Army
MGen M. Misener Commander 1st Canadian Division Headquarters
MGen R.L. Simoneau COS Chief Professional Conduct and Culture
MGen J.P.R. Prevost Director of Staff Strategic Joint Staff
Rear-Admiral B.W.N. Santarpia Commander Maritime Forces Atlantic
Rear-Admiral R.L. Patterson TBD
MGen D.E. Molstad Deputy Commander Canadian Joint Operations Command
MGen G.R. Smith Director General International Security Policy
MGen R. Pelletier Commander Canadian Army Doctrine and Training Centre
Rear-Admiral S.M. Waddell Deputy Commander RCN
MGen M.H. St-Louis Defence Attaché, Canadian Defence Liaison Staff (Washington)
Rear-Admiral C.A. Robinson Commander Maritime Forces Pacific
Rear-Admiral D.J. Patchell Vice Commander United States 2nd Fleet
MGen Michael Wright Commander Canadian Forces Intelligence Command (former 2PPCLI CO)
MGen C.J. Zimmer Chief of Staff, Data Innovation and Analytics
Rear-Admiral J.B. Zwick Chief of Combat Systems Integration
MGen J.E.S. Boucher Director General Culture Change
MGen R.R. MacKenzie Chief of Reserves and Employer Support
BGen Bob Ritchie COS for Vice CDS (former 2PPCLI CO)
BGen J.J.C. Potvin Deputy Director General Continental Defence Policy
BGen D. Chafai Deputy Commander 2nd Canadian Division
BGen G.M. Adamson Commander 3 Canadian Space Division
BGen M.W. Goulden Director General Air and Space Readiness
Commodore J.S. Armstrong Director General Naval Force Development
BGen L.W. Rutland Commander Joint Task Force IMPACT
BGen A.J. Atherton COS Operations, Chief of Military Personnel
BGen P.F.A. Demers Director General Army Capability Development
BGen J.G.L. Belisle Chaplain General
BGen J.R.S. Boivin Commander 2nd Canadian Division
Commodore M.D. Bowen J7 United States Cyber Command
BGen T.A. Morehen TBD
BGen K.D. Brodie Commander Military Personnel Generation Group
Commodore K.H. Coffen Director General Maritime Equipment Program Management
BGen F.G. Carpentier National Military Representative to Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe
Commodore K.W.A. Monaghan Director General readiness, Canadian Joint Operations Command
BGen D.P. Conley Privy Council Office Military Advisor
BGen S.A. Connor Deputy Commander, Force Generation, 1 Canadian Air Division
Commodore J.J.L.D. Bouchard Commander CAF Transition Group
BGen A.R. Day Deputy J3 US Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM)
BGen D.P.G.G. Boucher Director General Defence Security
BGen S.M. Parsons Task Force Commander Operation PROTEUS
BGen R.B. Dundon Director General Land Equipment Program Management
BGen J.D. Hawthorne Deputy Director of Strategy, Policy and Plans NORAD and United States Northern Command
BGen R.T. Strickland Commandant Canadian Forces College
BGen S.G. Graham Commander 3rd Canadian Division (Garrison Edmonton)
BGen K.A. Gallinger Director General Military Careers
BGen J.P.P. Godbout Commander Joint Task Force North
BGen P.J. Doyle Deputy Commander 1 Canadian Air Division
BGen P.H.G.H. Robichaud TBD
Commodore J.R.M. Thibault Project Manager, Canadian Surface Combatant Project
BGen M.F.J. Pelletier COS Canadian Special Operations Forces Command
BGen C.M. Harding Assistant COS J4, Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers
BGen L.J. Girouard J4, Strategic Joint Staff
BGen S.J. Hunter Deputy Commander Canadian Special Operations Forces Command
Commodore M.T.J. Kurtz Commandant Royal Military College (RMC)
BGen E Laforest Director General Operations, Strategic Joint Staff
BGen D.R. Yarker Director General Information Management Operations
BGen M.L. Lapointe (United States) 11th Airborne Division, Deputy Commanding General – Operations
BGen J.G.P. Lemyre CDS Liaison Officer to the Pentagon
BGen J.A.D. Abboud COS Army Operations
BGen S.F. Malcolm Commander Canadian Forces Health Services Group
Commodore D.E. Mazur Commander Canadian Fleet Pacific
BGen C.A. McKenna Director General Air and Space Force Development
BGen J.P.S. McKenzie Director General Support, Canadian Joint Operations Command
BGen C.I. Oberwarth Deputy Commanding General Operations, US I Corps
Commodore J.P. Olivier Director General Professional Conduct and Development
BGen J.J. Alexander Commander 2 Canadian Air Division
BGen K.E. Osmond Director General Joint Integration and Operational Sustainment
Commodore J.L. Murray Director General Naval Strategic Readiness
BGen T.M. Arsenault Director General Operations
BGen M.R. Perreault Director General Public Affairs
BGen J.D.S. Masson Commander 5th Canadian Division
BGen J.J.L.N. Pilon Director General Defence Force Planning
BGen D.P. O’Reilly COS for the CDS
BGen W. Radiff Alaskan NORAD Region Deputy Commander
BGen J.P. Thibert Director General Air Strategic Resources and Air Reserve
BGen J.P. Huet Deputy Commanding General – Operations, (United States) XVIII Airborne Corps
Commodore T.J.C. MacLean Commander Canadian Fleet Atlantic
BGen M.W.J. Rodgers Director General Aerospace Equipment Program Management
BGen P.C. Sabourin Director General Information Capabilities Force Development
BGen J.J. Major Commander 4th Canadian Division
BGen J.W. Errington Director General Plans, Strategic Joint Staff
BGen J.A.D. Goulet COS Canadian Forces Intelligence Command
BGen J.D. Smyth Director General Strategic Effects and Readiness, Strategic Joint Staff
BGen J.R. Speiser-Blanchet Commander National Cadets and Junior Canadian Rangers Support Group
BGen V.C. Tattersall Director General Compensation and Benefits
BGen C.A. Heilman Deputy COS, Chief Professional Conduct and Culture
Commodore R.M. Dagenais Chief Financial Management/Dep CFO
BGen J.D.V. Vass Director General Intelligence and Plans
Commodore S.M. Thornton Director General Digital Enterprise Modernization
BGen J.S. Trudeau Canadian Forces Provost Martial
BGen J.F. Cauden Multinational Division North, Deputy Commander Maneuvre
BGen E.M. Vandenberg Director General Intelligence Enterprise
BGen K.C. Paul Deputy Commanding General-Transformation, United States Space Force
BGen G.M. Bourque Deputy Commander 3rd Canadian Division (Garrison Edmonton)
BGen J.M. Valtonen Deputy Commander 4th Canadian Division
BGen G.B. Thomson Deputy Commander 5th Canadian Division
BGen J.G.S. Tardif TBD
BGen S.D. Bindon Deputy Chief of Reserves and Employer Support
BGen N.D. Stanton Director General Army Reserve
Commodore P.J. Montgomery Commander Naval Reserve
Commodore M.B. Mulkins Reserve Special Advisor to the RCN
Commodore M.A. Hopper Reserve Advisor to the Commander Royal Canadian Navy
Brigadier-General M.B. Larsen Deputy Director General Military Personnel Strategic and Director Strategic Development
Brigadier-General T Balfe Fighter Capability
BGen R.L. Scott Director General External Review Implementation Secretariat
