Gen Wayne Eyre
Stag Special

Today, I am pleased to announce the appointment of CWO Bob McCann as the 15th Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) Chief Warrant Officer, replacing CPO1 Gilles Grégoire, who will retire May 17 after 36 years of distinguished service to Canada.
CWO McCann is an experienced logistician with deployments to Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Afghanistan, and Iraq.
As a CWO, he has served as the Unit CWO with the Canadian Forces Support Unit (Europe) in Germany, Formation CWO for the Canadian Forces Recruiting Group and the Military Personnel Generation Group, Group CWO for Assistant Deputy Minister (Information Management) and most recently as the Command CWO for Chief, Professional Conduct and Culture.
He is a graduate of the Joint Warrant Officer advanced course from the New Zealand Staff College and is a member of the Partnership for Peace Consortium involved in the Defense education enhancement program, where he served as the Canadian lead in the development of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Professional Military Education effort.
CWO McCann became a Member of the Order of Military Merit (MMM) in December 2012 and was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal in November 2019.
CWO McCann was selected from a collection of very strong and impressive candidates, and each stage of the selection process required difficult choices.
This year’s process was objective and transparent in line with improvements which have been implemented within the General Officer/Flag Officer selection process.
Also new this year, solicitations for nominations extended beyond candidates who filled Command CWO/CPO positions and the process included psychometric tests to evaluate character, leadership, and general cognitive ability; a file review scored against objective criteria; a proactive disclosure and background checks; a panel interview; personal conflict of interest interview; and a multi-rater 360-degree assessment.
I would like to congratulate each of the applicants for their interest in the position and their impressive career accomplishments to date. Their continuing service to the CAF and to Canada is greatly appreciated.
I would also like to thank CPO1 Grégoire for his tremendous service to the CAF and Canada throughout his career and in particular, his commitment and dedication as the current CAF CWO, and wish him all the best in retirement.
I extend my congratulations to CWO McCann on his appointment, thank him for his willingness to serve in this capacity, and look forward to having him as my trusted advisor and fire team partner.
Gen Wayne Eyre/Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS)

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CWO Bob McCann was born in St-John New Brunswick. In 1983 he joined Squadron 725 Massey-Vanier Air Cadets. In 1989, he enrolled in the CAF as a Mobile Support Equipment Operator (MSE Op 935).
Following his trades course, he was posted to CFB Bagotville, Que., and then to 5 Svc Bn in Valcartier. In 1995, he deployed to Croatia and was promoted to master corporal.
Promoted to sergeant in 1999, he again deployed to Bosnia-Herzegovina. In 2002, as a warrant officer, he returned to Supply and Transportation Coy with 5 Svc Bn.
In 2004, he deployed to Afghanistan on Op ATHENA’s Roto 1 where he was Transportation Platoon WO and Unit Embarkation Officer for the National Support Element.
In May 2005, he was promoted to MWO and posted to CFB Gagetown as transportation CSM. He received the Professional Logistician designation (P.Log) in 2007 from the Advanced Logistics Officer Course (ALOC).
In April 2008, CWO McCann was promoted to his current rank and posted to CFB Kingston in the Land Force Doctrine and Training System.
In July 2010, he moved to Geilenkirchen, Germany, as UCWO with the Canadian Forces Support Unit (Europe). Upon completion of his tour in 2013, CWO McCann was posted to CFB Borden and appointed Formation CWO for the Canadian Forces Recruiting Group.
Two years later, he moved to CFB Kingston for the second time when he was selected Formation CWO for Military Personnel Generation.
CWO McCann then deployed to Iraq as Op IMPACT Task Force sergeant major from December 2017 to June 2018. Posted to Ottawa in August of 2018, he assumed the position as Assistant Deputy Minister Information Management Group CWO.
In May 2021, he was appointed to his current position as Command CWO Chief Professional Conduct and Culture.
CWO McCann is a graduate of the Joint Warrant Officer Advanced Course (JWOAC) from the New Zealand Staff College and is a member of the Partnership for Peace Consortium involved in the Defense Education Enhancement Program (DEEP) where he served as the Canadian lead in the development of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Professional Military Education effort.
He is married and has two daughters.