Lieutenant-General Jocelyn Paul, CMM, MSC, CD (born January 3, 1964) is a senior Canadian Forces officer who served as commander of the Canadian Army and Chief of the Army Staff from June 16, 2022 until July 13, 2024.
Jocelyn Paul | |
|---|---|
| Born | January 3, 1964 Wendake, Quebec |
| Allegiance | Canada |
| Service | Canadian Army |
| Years of service | 1988–2024 |
| Rank | Lieutenant-General |
| Commands | Commander of the Canadian Army and Chief of the Army Staff 4th Canadian Division Task Force Jerusalem Canadian Manoeuvre Training Centre Counter-Improvised Explosive Device Task Force 2nd Battalion, Royal 22nd Regiment |
| Battles / wars | War in Afghanistan |
| Awards | Commander of the Order of Military Merit Meritorious Service Cross Canadian Forces' Decoration Officer of the Legion of Merit (United States) |
| Alma mater | Université du Québec à Chicoutimi (BA, 1988) Université de Montréal (MA, 1991) |
Early life and education
editPaul was born and raised in Wendake, a First Nations community in Quebec. He is a member of the Huron-Wendat.[1][2]
Paul attended the Université du Québec à Chicoutimi, where he studied history and earned a bachelor's degree in 1988. He then went on to complete a master's degree in anthropology at the Université de Montréal in 1991.[1]
Military career
editPaul joined the reserve force in 1988 as an infantry officer with the Régiment du Saguenay and Régiment de Maisonneuve. He transferred to the regular force in 1991 as part of the Royal 22e Régiment.[1] He was promoted to lieutenant-general in 2021, when he was appointed Deputy Commander Allied Joint Forces Command Naples.[1]
On April 21, 2022, the Department of National Defence announced that Paul had been selected to become the next commander of the Canadian Army.[2] He took over the role on June 16, 2022.[3] He is the first and only Indigenous person to serve in this position.[4]
References
edit- ^ a b c d "Deputy Commander". jfcnaples.nato.int. Retrieved April 22, 2022.
- ^ a b Raycraft, Richard (April 21, 2022). "Canadian military announces new army, air force and navy commanders". CBC News.
- ^ "Canadian Army welcomes new Commander". Government of Canada. June 16, 2022. Retrieved June 25, 2022.
- ^ "Army gets its first Indigenous commander as Lt.-Gen. Jocelyn (Joe) Paul takes over". CBC News. June 16, 2022. Archived from the original on June 1, 2023.