On 10 July in a ceremony outside Russell Offices, Admiral David Johnston AC RAN, assumed command of the ADF from the retiring General Angus Campbell AO DSC. Admiral Johnston is only the sixth RAN officer to command Australia’s Defence Forces and the first since 2002.
Admiral Johnston joined the Royal Australian Naval College as a Junior Entry Cadet Midshipman in 1978. Graduating as a Seaman Officer in 1982, he later specialised as a Principal Warfare Officer. He has extensive experience across a range of leadership, maritime and joint operations, training and capability management appointments in Australia and overseas.
Admiral Johnston’s senior command appointments include Commanding Officer of the frigates HMA Ships Adelaide and Newcastle, Commander Border Protection Command, Chief of Joint Operations, and Vice Chief of the Defence Force. His operational experience includes Operation RELEX (2002), Operation QUICKSTEP in Fiji (2006), Operation RESOLUTE (2007) and Operation SLIPPER (2010).
Admiral Johnston’s honours and awards include his appointment as Member of the Order of Australia (2012), advancement to Officer of the Order of Australia (2018) and Companion of the Order of Australia (2022) ‘for eminent service to the Australian Defence Force through strategic stewardship and capability engagement.’
On 3 July the Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, announced the upcoming appointment of Lieutenant-General Jennie Carignan, currently Chief, Professional Conduct and Culture, National Defence, as Canada’s new Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS). She will be promoted to the rank of General and will replace the retiring CDS, General Wayne Eyre, in a ceremony on 18 July.
Lieutenant-General Carignan will be the first woman in Canada’s country’s history to lead the Canadian Armed Forces. Her military career in service of Canada and Canadians spans over 35 years and includes commanding two Combat Engineer Regiments and the 2nd Canadian Division, where she led more than 10,000 soldiers and spearheaded crisis operations during flood relief efforts in Quebec.
In 2008, Lieutenant-General Carignan became the first woman in CAF history to command a combat arms unit. She deployed to Afghanistan the following year, and also served in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Syria. From 2019 to 2020, she led NATO Mission Iraq, helping to strengthen Iraqi security institutions and forces to fight terrorism and stabilize the country. She was promoted to her current rank in 2021 and has served for the past three years as Chief, Professional Conduct and Culture, National Defence, leading efforts to transform the culture of the CAF.
