PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. – The Canadian Minister of National Defence, the Honorable Peter MacKay, announced the appointment of
Canadian Vice-Admiral A. B. Donaldson, commander of Canada Command, to the position of Vice Chief of the Defence Staff March 24 as part of an announcement of military promotions and appointments for 2010.
The position at the Canadian National Defence Headquarters in Ottawa is the Canadian equivalent to the vice chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff. Donaldson will replace Canadian Vice-Admiral J.A.D. Rouleau.
Donaldson served as commander of Canada Command since May, where he was responsible for all domestic and continental Canadian Forces operations in North America and its approaches with the exception of aerospace warning and control. As part of the Tri-Command Framework, Canada Command works closely with U.S. Northern Command and the North American Aerospace Defense Command, sharing the task of defending North America. Canada Command and USNORTHCOM are national commands that report to their respective governments while NORAD is a binational command that reports both to the U.S. and Canadian governments.
To read the Canada Command press release, log onto their Web site here.