Wayne Eyre Named Canada’s Chief of Defense Staff

General Wayne Eyre has been appointed Canada’s chief of defense staff, a position he has held on an interim basis since February, the Prime Minister’s Office announced Thursday.

Eyre has been in the highest military post since Admiral Art McDonald stepped aside amid a military police investigation into an allegation of sexual misconduct.

Military police announced in August that McDonald would not face any criminal or disciplinary charges, but the government kept McDonald on leave pending a review.

Eyre had previously served as an army commander since 2019, and prior to that he was involved in a number of military operations at home and abroad, including the deputy commander of the United Nations Command in Korea.

He faces the monumental task of leading the Canadian Armed Forces as he responds to calls for a culture change in the wake of a sexual misconduct crisis that has seen current and former military leaders under investigation or facing charges.

Retired General Jonathan Vance, who held the top job until his retirement in January, faces a criminal charge of obstruction of justice as part of the military police investigation into the misconduct allegations.

The appointment of the Chief of Defense Staff is formally made by the Governor General on the recommendation of the Prime Minister.

“Gen. Eyre will continue to work hard to build and monitor cultural change in the Canadian Armed Forces, and to earn the trust of survivors of sexual misconduct, “Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in a statement Thursday.