General Jennie Carignan took over as Canada’s Chief of the Defense Staff yesterday, making history as the first woman to lead the country’s armed forces.
Trained as a military engineer, Carignan has commanded troops in Afghanistan, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Iraq, and Syria during her 35 years in the Canadian Army.
“I feel ready, poised, and supported to take on this manifold challenge,” Carignan said at the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa.
Carignan highlighted several challenges, including the conflict in Ukraine and the Middle East, global tensions, climate change, increased demands on military personnel, and threats to democratic values and institutions.
Carignan succeeded General Wayne Eyre, the top military commander since 2021. Her leadership comes as Canada aims to increase defense spending and modernize its armed forces.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau recently announced plans to meet NATO’s defense-spending target of 2% of GDP by 2032. Canada’s defense spending is projected to be 1.39% of GDP in the 2024-25 fiscal year.
The armed forces are currently struggling with recruitment goals and outdated equipment. Last November, the head of the navy expressed concerns that the service might not fulfill its basic duties in 2024 due to its critical state.
“We’re facing many internal challenges such as recruitment and retention,” Carignan said. “We know the challenges we face and what we must do to address them.”
Trudeau praised Carignan as “a role model for all Canadians and the world” and has promoted gender equality policies since taking office in 2015.
