Structure of the DND and the CAF

The CAF is a complex and unique organization. I provide below for ease of reference a highly simplified version of the DND/CAF organizational chartEndnote 48.

Figure 1. DND/CAF organizational chart.

Figure 1 Long Description 

Governor General and Commander-in-Chief

Chief Military Judge

Reports to the Minister of National Defence:

  • Associate Minister of National Defence (Veterans Affairs) – at the discretion of the Prime Minister
  • Communications Security Establishment (CSE)
  • Ombudsperson
  • Military Grievances External Review Committee
  • Military Police Complaints Commission
  • Judge Advocate General
  • Deputy Minister of National Defence
  • Chief of the Defence Staff

Reports to the Deputy Minister of National Defence:

  • Senior Associate Deputy Minister
  • Associate Deputy Minister
  • Assistant Deputy Minister (Infrastructure and Environment)
  • Assistant Deputy Minister (Policy)
  • Assistant Deputy Minister (Finance)
  • Assistant Deputy Minister (Materiel)
  • Assistant Deputy Minister (Human Resources-Civilian)
  • Assistant Deputy Minister (Data, Innovation, Analytics)
  • Sexual Misconduct Response Center

Executive Advisory Role to the Deputy Minister of National Defence:

  • Corporate Secretary

Reports to the Chief of the Defence Staff:

  • Royal Canadian Navy
  • Canadian Army
  • Royal Canadian Air Force
  • Canadian Joint Operations Command
  • Military Personnel Command
  • Canadian Forces Intelligence Command
  • Canadian Special Operations Forces Command
  • North American Aerospace Defense Command

Executive Advisory Role to the Chief of the Defence Staff:

  • Strategic Joint Staff

Report to the Deputy Minister and the Chief of the Defence Staff:

  • Chief of Defence Intelligence
  • Vice Chief of the Defence Staff
  • Assistant Deputy Minister (Information Management)
  • Assistant Deputy Minister (Science and Technology)
  • Assistant Deputy Minister (Public Affairs)
  • Assistant Deputy Minister (Review Services)
  • Department of National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces Legal Advisor
  • Chief, Professional Conduct and Culture

Special Advisory Role to the Deputy Minister and Chief of the Defence Staff:

  • National Security and Intelligence Review and Oversight Coordination Secretariat

Certain organizations relevant to my mandate are not included in the chart and are listed below:

  • The VCDS includes the following organizations:
    • Canadian Forces Military Police Group (CFMPG)
    • Chief of Reserves and Employer Support
  • The Military Personnel Command (MILPERSCOM) includes the following organizations:
    • Director General Military Personnel Research and Analysis (DGMPRA)
    • DGMC, which includes the Director Military Careers Administration (DMCA)
    • Office of the Chaplain General
    • Canadian Forces Health Services Group (CFHSG)
    • CDA, which includes the RMC Kingston and the RMC Saint-Jean, the CFLRS, and the CFC
    • Canadian Forces Recruiting Group (CFRG)
  • The CPCC includes the following organizations:
    • Director General (DG) Conflict Prevention and Resolution (formally Integrated Complaint and Conflict Management (ICCM))
    • DG Professional Conduct and Development (formally Directorate General Professional Military Conduct (Operation HONOUR) (DPMC-OpH))
    • DG Engagement, Research and Policy
    • DG Culture Change

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