Jonathan Vance
Jonathan Vance | |
---|---|
![]() Vance in 2018 | |
Birth name | Jonathan Holbert Vance |
Nickname(s) | Jon |
Born | Kingston, Ontario, Canada | January 3, 1964
Allegiance | ![]() |
Service/ | ![]() |
Years of service | 1982–2021 |
Rank | ![]() |
Commands | |
Battles/wars | War in Afghanistan Military intervention against ISIL |
Awards | Commander of the Order of Military Merit Meritorious Service Cross Canadian Forces Decoration |
Alma mater | Royal Roads Military College Royal Military College of Canada |
Spouse(s) | Kerry Vance[1] |
Jonathan Holbert Vance, CMM, MSC, CD[2] (born January 3, 1964)[3] is a retired Canadian Army general who served as the chief of the Defence Staff of the Canadian Armed Forces from 2015 to 2021.
Military career
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/01/2017_Halifax_International_Security_Forum_%2826715198669%29_%28cropped%29_Jonathan_Vance_and_Hulusi_Akar.jpg/220px-2017_Halifax_International_Security_Forum_%2826715198669%29_%28cropped%29_Jonathan_Vance_and_Hulusi_Akar.jpg)
Born in Kingston, Ontario,[4] Vance joined the Canadian Armed Forces in 1982 and was commissioned as an infantry officer upon graduation from Royal Roads Military College in 1986.[5][6] He served as deputy commander of the Allied Joint Force Command Naples, and commander of the Canadian Task Force in Kandahar, Afghanistan in 2009 and 2010.[7][8] He went on to be commander of the Canadian Joint Operations Command in September 2014 and chief of Defence Staff on July 17, 2015.[7]
Vance holds a bachelor of arts degree in military and strategic studies from Royal Roads Military College, and a master of arts degree in war studies from the Royal Military College of Canada.[9]
On July 23, 2020, Vance announced his intention to retire as chief of Defence Staff after 5 years in office and will serve until his replacement is named. Despite being a potential candidate for an upcoming vacancy as chairman of the NATO Military Committee, the federal government announced its intention not to pursue the competition.[10]
On December 23, 2020, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that Vance would be succeeded by Vice Admiral Art McDonald as chief of the Defence Staff, with the change of command held on January 14, 2021.[11]
Family
His father, Jack Vance, was a Canadian lieutenant-general who had been the Vice Chief of Defence Staff in 1985.[12]
Honours and decorations
Vance has received the following orders and decorations during his military career:
Ribbon | Description | Notes |
---|---|---|
![]() |
Order of Military Merit (CMM) | |
![]() |
Meritorious Service Cross (MSC) |
|
![]() |
General Campaign Star |
|
![]() |
Special Service Medal |
|
![]() |
Canadian Peacekeeping Service Medal | |
![]() |
UNPROFOR | |
![]() |
Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal |
|
![]() |
Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal |
|
![]() |
Canadian Forces Decoration (CD) |
|
![]() |
Commander of the National Order of the Legion of Honour |
|
![]() |
Order of Viesturs, First Class |
|
Commander of the National Order of the Star of Romania |
|
- Vance has received the Canadian Forces Parachutist Badge
- By virtue of his position, he served as an aide-de-camp to the governor general of Canada, and as such he wore the gold aiguillette to denote this
References
- ^ General, The Office of the Secretary to the Governor. "Vance, Jonathan Holbert [Individual]". reg.gg.ca. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
- ^ Media Advisory: Governor General to Present 45 Military Decorations at Rideau Hall Marketwire (December 9, 2011).
- ^ "General Jonathan Vance". NATO. Retrieved February 19, 2018.
- ^ "Chief of Defence Staff". Retrieved August 6, 2015.
- ^ Lee Berthiaume. "All eyes on new commander as military faces significant challenges". Ottawa Citizen. Retrieved July 20, 2015.
- ^ "Lt.-Gen. Jonathan Vance appointed next chief of defence staff". cbc.ca. April 27, 2015. Retrieved July 20, 2015.
- ^ a b "Afghan vet Jonathan Vance eyed for top general post". thestar.com. April 2, 2015. Retrieved July 20, 2015.
- ^ "Gen. Jonathan Vance becomes chief of defence staff, vows to tackle harassment". cbc.ca. July 17, 2015. Retrieved July 20, 2015.
- ^ "Chief of the Defence Staff". Government of Canada. Retrieved March 14, 2017.
- ^ Brewester, Murray (July 23, 2020). "Gen. Jonathan Vance, chief of the defence staff, announces retirement". CBC News. Retrieved July 25, 2020.
- ^ "Top military job for New Waterford man". Chronicle Herald. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
- ^ "Jonathan Vance: 6 Facts About Canada's Next Defence Chief". Huffington Post. April 27, 2015. Retrieved March 14, 2017.
- ^ "Canada Gazette" (PDF). June 13, 2009.
- ^ "The Governor General of Canada > Find a Recipient". gg.ca. Retrieved July 23, 2015.
- ^ "The Governor General of Canada > Find a Recipient". gg.ca. Retrieved July 23, 2015.
- ^ "Mention in Dispatches". Governor General of Canada. Retrieved September 28, 2015.
- ^ "The Governor General of Canada > Find a Recipient". gg.ca. Retrieved July 23, 2015.
- ^ "The Governor General of Canada > Find a Recipient". gg.ca. Retrieved July 23, 2015.
- ^ "Awards to Canadians". canadagazette.gc.ca. Retrieved January 11, 2020.
- ^ Government of Canada, Public Works and Government Services Canada (September 29, 2018). "Canada Gazette, Part 1, Volume 152, Number 39: GOVERNMENT HOUSE". canadagazette.gc.ca.
- ^ "Awards to Canadians". canadagazette.gc.ca. Retrieved January 11, 2020.
External links
Media related to Jonathan Vance at Wikimedia Commons