Commander Canadian Joint Operations Command Announces Retirement

Ottawa - After 33 years of service to Canada, Lieutenant-General Christopher Coates has announced his retirement from the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF).

Lieutenant-General Coates joined the CAF after completing his post-secondary education at the University of Calgary with majors in chemistry and biochemistry. Upon entering the CAF he was trained as a helicopter pilot. His flying career started as a reconnaissance pilot flying light observation helicopters with 444 Squadron in Lahr, Germany and 430 Squadron in Valcartier, Québec. He also flew utility helicopters with both 408 Squadron in Edmonton, Alberta and 427 Squadron in Petawawa, Ontario. He later became the Commanding Officer of 427 Sqn from 2004 to 2006 and the first CO of 427 Special Operations Aviation Squadron when it was transferred to the Canadian Special Operations Forces Command on February 1, 2006.

In his staff appointments Lieutenant-General Coates has served as an operations officer with 10 Tactical Air Group HQ in St Hubert, 1 Wing HQ in Kingston, with the Air Staff in Ottawa and as the CAOC Director in Winnipeg. Lieutenant-General Coates served as the Deputy Commander Continental NORAD Region based at Tyndall AFB, Florida. In June 2013 he returned to Canada as Deputy Commander Continental at Canadian Joint Operations Command before returning to NORAD to serve as Director Operations and Deputy Commander at NORAD Headquarters in Colorado Springs. His last assignment with the CAF is Commander, Canadian Joint Operations Command.

Throughout his career he has contributed to the planning and execution of aviation support to a variety of international and domestic operations. Highlights include involvement with the air and aviation planning for Canadian missions to Haiti and Honduras, the first Canadian tactical aviation deployments to both Bosnia and Kosovo, air support for the French-led mission to the Democratic Republic of Congo, as well as being the first Commander of Joint Task Force-Afghanistan Air Wing.

Lieutenant-General Coates will now transfer to the Transition Group where he will begin the formal process of officially releasing from the CAF.

Effective March 22, 2021, Major-General William Seymour will assume the responsibilities of Acting Commander of Canadian Joint Operations Command (CJOC). Major-General Seymour will assume this position until such time as Rear-Admiral J.R. Auchterlonie is promoted to the rank of Vice-Admiral and appointed Commander Canadian Joint Operations Command, as recently announced in the 2021 Canadian Armed Forces General and Flag Officer senior appointments, promotions, and retirements.