Jennie Carignan
In 2024, General Jennie Carignan became the first female Chief of the Defence Staff, the highest rank in the Canadian Armed Forces. Educated as an engineer, General Carignan has served in the Canadian military for more than 35 years, including assuming leadership roles with missions to Afghanistan, Bosnia, Iraq, and Syria. Additionally, she is the only woman at the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) operations planning table.
General Carignan is known for her ethical leadership and advocacy for gender integration within the military. She has been a strong voice for recognizing women in combat roles and made it a priority to modernize the force’s recruitment system.
“I see a future where the obstacles I’ve encountered in this era of perceptions based on the expected roles of men and women in our society will slowly fade away; where my son and daughter [...] will be free to make their contribution according to their worth, just the way they are.”