PM taps Afghan vet to lead armed forces
Harper’s pick to take military reins described as ‘inspiring . . . honest’
OTTAWA— As a major, Jonathan Vance won praise for leading a relief team of soldiers along a lane cleared through a minefield, sandwiched between “armed belligerent” forces in Croatia in 1994.
Just over two decades later, Vance, 51, has been tapped to navigate another minefield, one of funding headaches, troubled military procurement and a war being waged against Islamic State extremists in Iraq and Syria.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper made it official Monday, confirming that Vance, currently a lieutenant-general, would be promoted to general and become the next chief of defence staff to lead the Canadian Armed Forces.
Harper praised Vance’s “distinguished” military career, noting his “significant experience defending Canadian sovereignty at home and around the globe.”
The prime minister said Vance takes the helm of the armed forces at a “critical time.”
“His years working with key allied forces and partners, his combat experience, his strategic leadership and his experience in counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism warfare will help position the Canadian Armed Forces for continued success,” Harper said in a statement.
Vance will replace Gen. Tom Lawson, a former fighter pilot who will step down after almost three years in the position. The change of command ceremony will take place in the coming weeks. The new general promises to bring a new style to the military’s top job, more like the era of Rick Hillier, the former chief of staff known for his high-profile, populist leadership.
Vance is described as blunt and not prone to bafflegab.
“He can certainly be inspiring. That comes from, in part, being pretty honest. He doesn’t beat about the bush,” said George Petrolekas, a retired colonel in the Canadian Armed Forces.
“When he is in public, there will be some fairly blunt assessments,” he said in an interview Monday.
Vance began his career as an infantry officer, rising through ranks to command the Second Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment in Gagetown and the 1 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group in Edmonton. He commanded the Canadian effort in Kandahar in 2009 and was called back to command it a second time in 2010. It was during his time in Afghanistan that he had a close call as his armoured vehicle passed over a roadside bomb. It exploded under the vehicle behind, killing the driver.
Vance currently serves as the commander of the Canadian Joint Operations Command, the branch of the military responsible for overseeing operational missions in Canada and around the world.
Vance took over command last September, just as Canada launched its air and ground campaign against Islamic extremists in Iraq, a mission recently expanded to include Syria.