Events

Lieutenant-General Paul Wynnyk assumes command of the Canadian Army

Lieutenant-General (LGen.) Paul Wynnyk assumed command of the Canadian Army from LGen. Marquis Hainse today in a ceremony at Parliament Hill.

“I commend Lieutenant-General Hainse for his leadership and dedication during his tenure and welcome Lieutenant-General Paul Wynnyk as the new Commander of the Canadian Army. Both leaders are highly accomplished and exemplary soldiers,” said Harjit Sajjan, Minister of National Defence.

Wynnyk joined the 20th Field Regiment in 1981, after four years as an Army Cadet. He was later commissioned into the Canadian Military Engineers in 1986.

Over the course of his career, Wynnyk has held a variety of operation and staff positions both domestically and abroad. He has served with 1 Combat Engineer Regiment in Edmonton, 1 Area Support Group and Land Force Western Area/Joint Task Force West.

Wynnyk also commanded Operations LUSTRE and LYRE, the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) responses to the 2011 floods in Manitoba.

Internationally, he has been posted to Europe, Africa, and Southeast Asia. He completed four years of service in Germany, tours with the UN Advance Mission in Cambodia, the UN UN Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC), and an assignment as the Canadian Task Force Commander and mission Chief of Operations of the Mission de l’Organisation des Nations Unies en République Démocratique du Congo (MONUC).

In 2009, the new Army Commander was posted to the Combined Security Transition Command in Afghanistan as the Assistant Commanding General responsible for overseeing the development of the Afghan Ministry of Defense and the Afghan National Army.

Wynnyk then served as the Deputy Commander of the Canadian Army from 2012 to 2014 and since July 2014 he has served as the Chief of Defence Intelligence, overseeing the Canadian Forces Intelligence Command.

“My sincere gratitude goes out to Lieutenant-General Hainse for his remarkable work. Our exceptional Canadian soldiers were in very good hands under his command. Their expertise and professionalism are recognized the world over. I intend to keep the bar set high,” said Wynnyk.

The Change-of-Command ceremony was attended by a 100-soldier marching and band contingent comprised of members from the Ceremonial Guard and was presided over by Gen. Jonathan Vance, Chief of the Defence Staff. Displays of military equipment were also showcased during the event.

“I would like to thank Lieutenant-General Hainse for his steadfast leadership, operational focus and for his strong voice and actions in our mission to eliminate inappropriate behaviour and sexual misconduct. A leader who leads from the front, after the terrible events of October 22, 2014, he offered to take the first shift on our national cenotaph. As we expand our footprint on NATO operations, he is the right choice to be the Canadian Armed Forces’ military representative in NATO. To his successor, Lieutenant-General Wynnyk, I offer congratulations as he takes command of Canada’s Army. I am confident he will skillfully lead the Army in its primary role of defending Canada, at home and abroad,” stated Gen. Vance.

LGen. Wynnyk is being promoted from his position as Canadian Forces Intelligence Command while LGen. Hainse will become Canada’s senior military representative to NATO in Brussels, Belgium.

Hainse served as commander of the Canadian Army since 2013 .

“During my time as their commander, our Canadian soldiers have made me extremely proud. It was a tremendous privilege to serve with them, and I thank each and every one of them for their dedication, selfless service, and commitment to Canada,” said LGen. Hainse.

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Mishall Rehman

Originally from Atlanta, GA, Mishall is a freelance journalist pursuing her passion for writing in her new homeland Canada. She currently lives in Trenton, ON with her husband.

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