Paul Wynnyk
| Lieutenant General Paul Wynnyk CMM MSM CD | |
|---|---|
 Lt. Gen. Paul Wynnyk | |
| Born | June 29, 1964 |
| Allegiance | Canada |
| Service/ | Canadian Army |
| Rank | Lieutenant General |
| Commands held |
1 Combat Engineer Regiment 1 Area Support Group Land Force Western Area Canadian Forces Intelligence Command Commander of the Canadian Army |
| Battles/wars | War in Afghanistan |
| Awards |
Commander of the Order of Military Merit Meritorious Service Medal Canadian Forces Decoration |
Lieutenant General Paul Francis Wynnyk CMM MSM CD (born June 29, 1964) is a Canadian Army officer who served from 2016 to 2018 as Commander of the Canadian Army. On July 16, 2018 he was named Vice Chief of the Defence Staff.
Background
Paul Wynnyk is of Ukrainian descent, the grandson of emigrants in Alberta from Radvantsi, Lviv region, in Western Ukraine.[1] He was born on June 29, 1964 in Edmonton and was raised in the village of Breton, Alberta.[2]
Military career
Wynnyk attended Royal Roads Military College and the Royal Military College of Canada, he was commissioned into the Canadian Military Engineers in 1986.[3] He became commanding officer of 1 Combat Engineer Regiment in Edmonton in 1997, commander of 1 Area Support Group in 2004 and Assistant Commanding General at the Combined Security Transition Command – Afghanistan in March 2009.[3] He went on to be commander of Land Force Western Area in 2010, Deputy Commander of the Canadian Army in 2012 and Commander of the Canadian Forces Intelligence Command and Chief of Defence Intelligence in July 2014.[3] In January 2016 it was announced that he would become Chief of the Army Staff and Commander of the Canadian Army.[4] In his speech during the ceremony, Wynnyk gave credit to his parents for supporting him on the path to this point in his career. "My mom Joan, who is here today, has watched and supported my journey in uniform from cub scout, to army cadet, to reservist, to regular officer," he said. About his late father Walter, Wynnyk said, "As both my high school principal and the commanding officer of my army cadet corps, it was he who encouraged me to embark upon a career of military service.[4] On July 16, 2018 he was named Vice Chief of the Defence Staff.[5]
References
- ↑ "New commander of Canadian army has Ukrainian roots". Unian. 15 July 2016. Retrieved 15 July 2016.
- ↑ Lydia Neufeld. "New head of Canada's Army from Breton, Alberta". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, July 14, 2016.
- 1 2 3 "Major General PF Wynnyk: Biography". Canadian Army. Retrieved 22 January 2016.
- 1 2 "Top ranks of Canadian Forces get shake-up with new army, navy commanders". CBC. 19 January 2016. Retrieved 21 January 2016.
- ↑ New Commander for the Canadian Army: changes in the Canadian army command, July 16, 2018
External links
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Marquis Hainse |
Commander of the Canadian Army 2016–2018 |
Succeeded by Jean-Marc Lanthier |
| Preceded by Mark Norman |
Vice Chief of the Defence Staff 2018– |
Succeeded by Incumbent |