Lt.-Gen. Walter Natynczyk Appointed Canada's New Chief of Defence Staff

Defence Minister Peter MacKay has appointed Lt.-Gen. Walter Natynczyk as Canada's new chief of staff, Natynczyk takes over from Gen. Rick Hillier.

Defence Minister Peter MacKay announced today that he has named Lt.-Gen. Walter Natynczyk as Canada's new chief of defence staff. Mackay described Natynczyk as a "gentleman general" who is widely respected within the Armed Forces and around the world. Lt.-Gen. Walter Natynczyk has spent more than 30 years with the military. He is a native of Winnipeg Maintoba and was until now the vice-chief of defence staff. He will be promoted to the rank of full general as he takes over from Gen. Rick Hillier in July. "I'm looking forward to providing the leadership to the men and women of the Canadian Forces, providing the security for Canada and Canadians, and indeed all those families of our military men and women," Natynczyk said. 'I did not agree with all Rick Hillier did or said but I appreciated his openness. I hope his replacement will be the same.' said Mackay. "This will bring great continuity within the Canadian Forces," MacKay added. "We have in Gen. Natynczyk someone who has enormous respect internationally, within the Canadian Forces, and someone who I think is going to be an absolutely exceptional chief of defence staff, a gentleman general." "Walter Natynczyk is the ideal person to lead the Canadian Forces forward," Prime Minister Stephen Harper said.