Ottawa: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has congratulated General Jennie Carignan after she became the first woman Chief of Defence Staff. She has replaced the outgoing head of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF).
Taking to social media, Trudeau wrote, “Today, General Jennie Carignan became the first woman to lead the Canadian Armed Forces. It was my honour to congratulate Canada’s new Chief of Defence Staff.”
On Thursday, Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of Canada Mary Simon presided over a ceremony at the Canadian War Museum, Ottawa, when General Carignan assumed the leadership of the CAF.
The Chief of the Defence Staff, Canada’s highest-ranking military officer, is responsible for advising the government, providing strategic leadership to the CAF, and ensuring military readiness and effectiveness to defend country’s interests at home and abroad.
General Carignan has had a distinguished career since commissioning into the Canadian Military Engineers in 1990. She commanded two Combat Engineer Regiments, Royal Military College Saint-Jean, and the 2nd Canadian Division. She participated in multiple international and domestic deployments, led NATO Mission in Iraq and most recently held the position of Chief of Professional Conduct and Culture.
“Today, I join Canadians in welcoming General Jennie Carignan as Chief of the Defence Staff. General Carignan has served Canada with great distinction both at home and abroad over the past 35 years – and I am confident that the Canadian Armed Forces will be well-served by her leadership. On behalf of Canadians, I also express my thanks to General Wayne Eyre for his leadership and 40 years of distinguished service to Canada,” said Bill Blair, Minister of National Defence.