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General Ray Henault, Chief of the Defence Staff, has been named NATO’s military commander. The alliance’s military chiefs selected Gen Henault to be Chairman of the Military Committee last Nov., the organization’s senior military authority. The post is currently held by German Gen Harald Kujat, whose term expires next summer.
The Military Committee, which consists of senior officers from the 26 member nations, is responsible for reviewing the alliance’s military policy. As chairman, Gen Henault will act as the chief advisor to NATO’s Secretary General, Jaap de Hoop Scheffer.
Gen Henault is only the second Canadian to hold the prestigious post. Admiral Robert Fall held the position 1980 – 1983.
During a conference call from NATO Headquarters in Brussels, Gen Henault said of his appointment, "I am very proud on behalf of Canada. I believe this will help to strengthen transatlantic relations with Europe at a time when there is no question the security of Europe and North America is linked. NATO embodies a vital link and has a central role to play in a dangerous world."
A native of Manitoba, Gen Henault, 55 joined the CF in 1968. He was a CF-101 Voodoo jet pilot, and later piloted the twin Huey helicopter.
Gen Henault was promoted to general in June 2001 and named CDS at the same time. He will handover to a new CDS in April.
Ward P.D. Elcock was appointed Deputy Minister for the Department of National Defence last Sept. He is a long-time Federal government official. Prior to joining DND, Mr. Elcock was director, Canadian Security Intelligence Service from 1994-2004; Deputy Clerk, Security and Intelligence; and Counsel, Privy Council Office (PCO) 1989-1994; and Assistant Secretary to the Cabinet (Legislation and House Planning), amongst other senior offices.
He holds a BA in Political Science from Carleton University and a LL.B from Osgoode Hall Law Society School at York University. He was admitted to the Law Society of Upper Canada in 1975.
Vice Admiral Ron Buck became Vice Chief of the Defence Staff in early Sept. succeeding Lieutenant General George Macdonald, who retired. He had been Chief of the Maritime staff since Jun. 2001. RAdm Buck guided the Navy through Canada’s military contribution to the international campaign against terrorism from Oct. 2001 to Oct. 2003, known as Operation APPOLLO. During that operation, Canada deployed 16 out of 18 major warships, five air detachments and over 4,000 sailors, representing 95 per cent of our sea-going force. It was the single largest naval deployment since the Korean War.
The new VCDS will have to continue with important areas of change in the Canadian Forces. One is the strategic capability investment plan for the longer term (15 years) in an affordable and realistic program, as well as the new budget for 2005.
Command of Canada’s Navy was turned over to Vice Admiral
Bruce McLean from Vice Admiral Ron Buck in a ceremony in Ottawa on Aug. 25.
VAdm MacLean served primarily in Canada’s Navy, but also Royal Navy
and Royal Australian Navy submarines. He commanded HMCS OKANAGAN, an Oberon
class submarine in 1982. In Victoria in 1992, he commanded HMCS PROVIDER until
1994 and then was chief of staff at MARPAC. At NDHQ, he served in Maritime
Force Development, Submarine Requirements and was Director General International
Security Policy. Promoted RAdm, he took command of MARLANT in the summer of
2000. In Aug. 2002, upon promotion to VAdm, he became Canadian Military Representative
to the NATO Military Committee in Brussels. 
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