Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy
Vice-Admiral D.A. Charlebois, MSM, CD

VAdm Dan Charlebois was raised in Kingston, Ontario and began his career in the CAF in 1992 as a Naval Reservist, transferring to the Regular Force in 1994. He graduated from Wilfrid Laurier University in 1997 and completed Naval Warfare Officer training at the Naval Officer Training Centre Venture.

As a junior officer, he served as a Bridge Watchkeeper, Above Water Warfare Officer, and Operations Officer in HMC Ships Charlottetown and Halifax, deploying to the Persian Gulf, Arabian Sea, and Mediterranean in support of UN sanctions and counter-terrorism missions including Operations AUGMENTATION, APOLLO, and ACTIVE ENDEAVOUR.

After posting to Sea Training Atlantic, he attended the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island, completing Staff College and earning a Master of Science in Management from Salve Regina University. He was then appointed Executive Officer of HMCS Fredericton, deploying on Ops SAIPH and OCEAN SHIELD. Following promotion he joined Naval Staff in Ottawa in Force Development.

In May 2013, he assumed command of HMCS Regina, deploying to the Arabian Sea and Horn of Africa on Op ARTEMIS before transiting to the Mediterranean Sea for Op REASSURANCE.

Promoted to Commodore in 2020, he Commanded Combined Task Force 150 from Bahrain, leading coalition counter-terrorism operations across the region. In July 2021 he was appointed Director General Readiness at Canadian Joint Operations Command.  

Returning to Naval Staff in 2022 as Director General Future Ship Capability, VAdm Charlebois oversaw delivery and acceptance of the RCN’s future fleet, including Harry DeWolf-class vessels, the delivery of future HMCS Protecteur, and the start of construction on the future HMCS Fraser.

VAdm Charlebois was appointed Deputy Commander in summer 2025 and became the 39th Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy in late spring 2026.