Admiral John Rogers Anderson, CMM, CD

Admiral John Rogers Anderson was the 23rd Commander of the Canadian Navy.

 

Admiral Anderson joined the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) as a Cadet in 1959. He studied at the University of British Columbia.

From 1963 to 1966 he served:

• in HMCS Stadacona
• in HMCS Saskatchewan
• in HMCS St. Croix
• at Royal Roads Military College

In 1966, he specialized in operations, taking the Long Operations Course at HMCS Stadacona. He was appointed to the aircraft carrier HMCS Bonaventure in 1968. In 1970, he joined the CCS 280 Programming Team as a Programmer at Canadian Forces Headquarters (CFHQ) in Ottawa.

In 1974, he became Executive Officer in the destroyer HMCS Iroquois. In 1975, he studied at the Canadian Forces Command and Staff College in Toronto.

He was promoted to Commander in 1976. He served at National Defence Headquarters (NDHQ) as the Section Head of the Operations Staff Section.

In 1978, Anderson assumed command of the destroyer-escort HMCS Restigouche. In 1980, he was named Commandant of the Naval Officers Training Centre Venture. On promotion to Captain(N) in 1982, he was appointed Commander of the First Canadian Destroyer Squadron in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

In 1983, he became Director Maritime Requirements (Sea) at NDHQ. Promoted to Commodore in 1986, he was appointed Director General Maritime Doctrine and Operations at NDHQ.

In July 1987, he was made Rear-Admiral. He was tasked to head the Canadian Nuclear Submarine Acquisition Project as the Chief of Submarine Acquisition. In July 1989, he was appointed Chief of Maritime Doctrine and Operations.

On promotion to Vice-Admiral in July 1991, he was appointed the Commander Maritime Command in Halifax. The next year, he was made Vice Chief of the Defence Staff at NDHQ. Promoted to his present rank in January 1993, Admiral Anderson was appointed Chief of the Defence Staff. He served in this position until he retired in December 1993.