NR–05.039 - May 26, 2005 OTTAWA -- Defence Minister Bill Graham has approved several promotions and appointments for Canadian Forces generals and flag officers. "Effective leadership is crucial to the implementation of the Defence Policy Statement and the transformation of the Canadian Forces," said Minister Graham. "I am pleased to announce these promotions and appointments, as these senior officers all possess the knowledge, talent and experience required to meet those objectives." The following promotions and appointments are part of the annual cycle of senior promotions and appointments, most of which were announced in January and February: Major-General Jan Arp will be appointed Commander, Canadian Defence Liaison Staff (Washington), replacing Rear-Admiral Ian Mack, who will retire. Commodore Roger Girouard will be promoted Rear-Admiral and appointed Commander Maritime Forces Pacific in Victoria, replacing Rear-Admiral Jean-Yves Forcier, whose appointment as Chief of Staff, Assistant Deputy Minister (Information Management) at National Defence Headquarters in Ottawa was announced earlier. Commodore Tyrone Pile will be promoted Rear-Admiral, as announced earlier, and appointed as Chief of Staff, Assistant Deputy Minister (Human Resources-Military). Brigadier-General Raymond Romses will be appointed Commander, Canadian Defence Liaison Staff (London), replacing Brigadier-General Bill Neumann, whose appointment as A3 Operations at 1 Canadian Air Division in Winnipeg was announced earlier. Brigadier-General Rick Parsons will be appointed Commander, Land Forces Atlantic Area in Halifax, replacing Brigadier-General Raymond Romses. Colonel Jim Bruce will be promoted Brigadier-General and appointed Deputy Commander of Land Forces Atlantic Area in Halifax, replacing Brigadier-General Parsons. Colonel Denis Bouchard will be promoted Brigadier-General and appointed Director General/J4 Logistics at National Defence Headquarters in Ottawa. He replaces Brigadier-General Marc Pouliot who died suddenly in early April. The following promotions and appointments are a result of the Canadian Forces transformation initiative: Major-General Walter Natynczyk will be appointed Chief of Transformation, Canadian Forces Transformation Team at National Defence Headquarters in Ottawa. Brigadier-General Daniel Gosselin will be appointed Chief of Staff, Canadian Forces Transformation Team at National Defence Headquarters in Ottawa. Brigadier-General Stuart Beare will be appointed Commandant, Land Force Doctrine and Training System in Kingston, Ontario, replacing Major-General Natynczyk. Colonel Timothy Grant, whose promotion to Brigadier-General was announced previously, will be appointed Commander, Land Forces Western Area in Edmonton, replacing Brigadier-General Beare. Colonel Walter Semianiw will be promoted Brigadier-General and appointed Commander, Canadian Forces College in Toronto, replacing Brigadier-General Gosselin. "Ensuring that transformation is led by capable individuals who possess the necessary knowledge and vision is central to ensuring our success," said General Rick Hillier, Chief of the Defence Staff. "I am confident that these officers - as well as leaders at all levels - possess the operational experience, the professionalism, the ethos and the values that are needed to lead the men and women of the Canadian Forces through the transformation process and into the future." Once these promotions and appointments have taken place, the total number of Regular Force generals and naval flag officers will stand at 73. This number does not include General Ray Henault, who is not performing a Canadian Forces function. -30- Note to Editors : The majority of promotions and appointments for senior leadership were announced earlier this year. Refer to the "What's New" section at www.forces.gc.ca , news release 05.006 dated January 21, 2005, news release 05.013 dated February 14, 2005 and news release 05.023 dated April 11, 2005.
