News Release

From the Prime Minister's Web Site (http://www.pm.gc.ca/)

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PRIME MINISTER ANNOUNCES THE APPOINTMENT OF A NEW CHIEF OF THE DEFENCE STAFF

June 6, 2008
Ottawa, Ontario

Prime Minister Stephen Harper today announced that Lieutenant-General Walter J. Natynczyk, currently Vice Chief of the Defence Staff, has been appointed Chief of the Defence Staff, and promoted to the rank of General. The change of command ceremony will take place in the coming weeks.

"Lieutenant-General Walter J. Natynczyk brings strong leadership and unparalleled experience to his new position," said Prime Minister Harper. "His service record includes a broad range of achievement at home and abroad. The Canadian Forces are a vital institution making a tremendous contribution to our country. Walter Natynczyk is the ideal person to lead the Canadian Forces forward."

General Natynczyk assumed his current position as Vice Chief of the Defence Staff on June 28, 2006. He has extensive experience leading forces abroad and at home. He joined the military in 1975 and has held progressively more senior positions since that time, including the command of the Canadian Task Force in Bosnia and deputy command of the U.S. Army Corps in Fort Hood, Texas. This led him to a 15-month deployment in Iraq as Deputy Commanding General of the Multi-National Corps. He has served as the Chief Transformation Officer responsible for the implementation of Canadian Forces restructuring. General Natynczyk was born in Manitoba and attended Royal Roads Military College and Collège Militaire Royal, graduating with a degree in Business Administration.

The Prime Minister took the opportunity to thank General Rick Hillier for his leadership as the Chief of the Defence Staff since February 2005 and wished him all the best in his future endeavours.

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The Prime Minister's Office - Communications
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