New Commander for Canadian Special Operations Forces Command
News release
April 25, 2018 – Ottawa – National Defence/Canadian Armed Forces
Command of Canadian Special Operations Forces Command (CANSOFCOM) officially changed hands at a ceremony today in Ottawa. The new Commander of CANSOFCOM, Major-General Peter Dawe, assumed command from Major-General Mike Rouleau at a ceremony at Cartier Square Drill Hall before members and distinguished guests of CANSOFCOM.
Presided over by General Jonathan Vance, Chief of the Defence Staff, today’s ceremony brought MGen Rouleau’s four-year tenure as Commander of Canada’s special operations forces organization to a close.
Earlier, on April 24, 2018, the Command also held a Change of Appointment ceremony, where the Command bade farewell to Chief Warrant Officer Daniel Legault and welcomed Chief Warrant Officer Andy Bonvie as the new CANSOFCOM Command Sergeant-Major.
Quotes
“CANSOFCOM provides me and my operational commanders with agile, high-readiness personnel who are among the best in the world at conducting precise special operations to achieve Canadian Government objectives. For the past four years, MGen Mike Rouleau has done an outstanding job leading CANSOFCOM. He is superseded by MGen Peter Dawe, another outstanding leader who will no doubt build on Mike’s leadership, agility, bold action, and professional excellence. I thank them both for their steadfast commitment to Canada’s special forces and the Canadian Armed Forces.”
General Jonathan Vance, Chief of the Defence Staff
“I am deeply honoured to command CANSOFCOM on heels of the excellent leadership provided by MGen Rouleau. I look forward to enabling the continued success of Canada’s special forces by ensuring that the members of CANSOF are well-positioned to meet the defence needs of tomorrow.”
Major-General Peter Dawe, Commander, Canadian Special Operations Forces Command
Quick facts
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Formerly the Deputy Commander CANSOFCOM, MGen Dawe has more than 28 years of experience in the CAF, having held a variety of senior staff positions in the Canadian Army and National Defence Headquarters in addition to his time within CANSOFCOM. A graduate of the Canadian Forces College National Security Programme, the U.S. CAPSTONE Program, and the Coalition Joint Forces Special Operations Component Commander Course, MGen Dawe’s operational tours include Cyprus, Bosnia, and two tours in Afghanistan.
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Enrolling in the CAF in 1988 as an Infantryman with the Royal Canadian Regiment, Chief Warrant Officer Andy Bonvie has served in various capacities within CANSOFCOM since 1998, including JTF-2 and CANSOFCOM Headquarters. CWO Bonvie has deployed on operations in Yugoslavia, Africa, Bosnia, Afghanistan and Iraq. He was invested into the Order of Military Merit 2016 and awarded the Meritorious Service Medal in 2014.
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The Commander of CANSOFCOM provides the Government of Canada with agile, high-readiness Special Operations Forces capable of conducting special operations across the spectrum of conflict at home and abroad. He also advises the CDS and other operational commanders on special operations issues and employment.
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CANSOFCOM is an operational command organized into a headquarters element and five units: Joint Task Force 2 (JTF 2); the Canadian Joint Incident Response Unit – Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CJIRU-CBRN); the Canadian Special Operations Regiment (CSOR); 427 Special Operations Aviation Squadron (SOAS); and the Canadian Special Operations Training Centre (CSOTC).
Associated links
Contacts
Media Relations
Department of National Defence
Phone: 613-996-2353
Email: mlo-blm@forces.gc.ca