while serving in his “dream job” as commanding officer of the The Royal canadian dragoons, then lcol natynczyk is seen brieFing the minister of national defence at the time the hon art eggleton, during the major ice storm of 1998.

General Walt Natynczyk is a native of Winnipeg, Manitoba. He joined the Canadian Forces in 1975 after spending five years as an Air Cadet and attended the Royal Roads Military College, Victoria, BC for two years before transferring to le Collège Militaire Royal, Saint-Jean, QC for his final two years where he obtained his Batchelor’s degree in Business Administration. He subsequently served in numerous regimental command positions at all levels from tank troop leader up to Commanding Officer of The Royal Canadian Dragoons, .

General Natynczyk's operational experience consists of four years on NATO duty in Germany; six months of UN peacekeeping duties in Cyprus (1989); a one-year-long mission with the United Nations in the Former Yugoslavia as Sector South-West Chief of Operations in Bosnia and Herzegovina (1994) with British forces, then as the Chief of Land Operations, UNPROFOR HQ in Zagreb, Croatia (1995). He commanded The Royal Canadian Dragoons in domestic operations during the Winnipeg floods of 1997 as well as in the Ottawa region during the 1998 Ice Storm. He returned to Bosnia-Herzegovina in 1998-1999, where he served as the Canadian Contingent Commander.

As an exchange officer, he served as Deputy Commanding General, III (US) Armored Corps and Fort Hood, Texas and deployed with the Corps to Baghdad, Iraq throughout 2004, serving first as the Deputy Director of Strategy, Policy and Plans and subsequently as the Deputy Commanding General of the Multi-National Corps.

Upon his return to Canada, he assumed command of the Canadian Army's Doctrine and Training System. He was subsequently appointed Chief of Transformation where he was responsible for implementation of the force restructure. He served as the Vice Chief of the Defence Staff from 2006-2008.

General Natynczyk served as Canada's Chief of Defence Staff from 2 July 2008 to 29 October 2012. Key events over his tenure were the combat mission in Afghanistan, the 2010 Winter Olympics, humanitarian support to Haiti and the NATO mission over Libya.

In addition to his degree from CMR, he is a graduate of the Canadian Forces Command and Staff College, the U.K. All-Arms Tactics Course and the US Army War College (Master in Defence Studies). His Canadian decorations include the Commander of the Order of Military Merit (Canada) and the Meritorious Service Cross (Canada), and his foreign honours include the Commander Legion of Merit (US), Commander Légion d’Honneur (France), Commander's Cross of the Order of Merit (Poland) and the Medal of Merit in Gold (Netherlands). According to the brochure Commonwealth and Foreign Honours to Members of Her Majesty’s Canadian Armed Forces - 1969-2017, it is very rare for an officer to have received four “additions” of this nature, and if awarded it is usually for their outstanding strategic leadership.

He enjoys jogging and sailing. He and his wife Leslie have three children, Margaret, William and John, who are serving in the Canadian Navy, Air Force and Army respectively.

Following his retirement from the CF, General Natynczyk was President of the Canadian Space Agency from August 2013 to November 2014. On November 3, 2014, he assumed the role of Deputy Minister of Veterans Affairs Canada, and served in that capacity until he retired on the 24th of May, 2021

governor general david johnston supervising the cds handover between General tom lawson, and general walt natynczyk, a unique ceremony since this was likely the first time two members of the same class handed this responsibility over to one another

General Walter Natynczyk, Chief of the Defence Staff climbing out of a Leopard 2A6M tank with the Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians) during his visit to Exercise Maple Resolve in Wainwright, Alberta on October 19, 2012.

Photo: Corporal Tina Gillies, Canadian Forces Base Wainwright Imagery Section

Natynczyk Op Nannok Inuvik BM2011-2016-85.JPG

During Operation NANOOK 11, Governor General David Johnston, General Walt Natyncyk, Chief of the Defence Staff and General Knud Bartels, Danish Chief of Defence, at Iqaluit Airport.

Photo: Sgt Kev Parle

Natynczyk HMCS Regina RIMPAC GG2012-0373-005.jpg

The Minister of National Defence (MND), the Honourable Peter MacKay and the Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS) General Walter Natynczyk in front of the Kings Palace in Kabul, Afghanistan on March 15th, 2011 during OP Athena, which was Canada’s participation in the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan.

Photo: Master Corporal Angela Abbey, Canadian Forces Combat Camera

The Honourable Rona Ambrose, Minster of Public Works and Government Services Canada, the Honourable, Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence and Chief of Defence Staff, General Walt Natynczyk line up for the singing of the Canadian National Anthem prior to a friendly game of ball hockey at Kandahar Airfield Afghanistan on July 2nd, 2011.

Photo: Sergeant Matthew McGregor, Canadian Forces Combat Camera

His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of Canada, and General Walter Natynczyk, Chief of the Defence Staff, visited Her Majesty's Canadian Ship (HMCS) Regina, in Pearl Harbour, on July 20. 1,400 Canadian sailors, soldiers, and airmen and airwomen participated in the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2012 combined and joint exercise, taking place near the Hawaiian Islands.

Photo: Sgt Ronald Duchesne, Rideau Hall, OSGG

full circle moment - inspecting rmc cadets on parade - credit to Lars Hagberg Photography

Recognition and Awards

Meritorious Service Cross - October 5th, 2005

Major-General Natynczyk is recognized for his outstanding leadership and professionalism while deployed as Deputy Commanding General of the Multi-National Corps during Operation IRAQI FREEDOM. From January 2004 to January 2005, Major-General Natynczyk led the Corps' 10 separate brigades, consisting of more than 35,000 soldiers stationed throughout the Iraq Theatre of Operations. He also oversaw planning and execution of all Corps level combat support and combat service support operations. His pivotal role in the development of numerous plans and operations resulted in a tremendous contribution by the Multi-National Corps to Operation IRAQI FREEDOM, and has brought great credit to the Canadian Forces and to Canada.

US Legion of Merit (Commander) - 2012

General natynczyk being presented the us legion of merit (commander) by general dempsey 18th chairman of the joint chiefs of staff in 2012 (from us embassey flickr)

Selected to the CMR Hall of Fame - September 7th, 2013. To that date, the only CMR graduate to have held the post of Chief of the Defence Staff:

Awarded the 2024 Vimy Award - 6 November 2024

The Vimy Award is an award presented by the Conference of Defence Associations Institute (CDA Institute) to the "Canadian who has made a significant and outstanding contribution to the defence and security of Canada and the preservation of its democratic values". The award, first presented in 1991, is given annually in November at a dinner held at the Canadian War Museum. The CDA has been the sponsor of the Vimy Award since 1991. The Award honours the bravery and sacrifices of the Canadian soldiers who were victorious at the Battle of Vimy Ridge in April 1917. Past winners have included former military college graduates General Manson, General de Chastelain, LGen Maissoneuve, and MGen Dalliare.

Appointed to the Order of Canada - December 14th, 2024

General Walter John Natynczyk, O.C., C.M.M., M.S.C., C.D. (retired)
Hartington, Ontario

A pillar in our society, Walter Natynczyk is a retired Canadian Army general and former chief of the Defence Staff. He led numerous command positions, including peacekeeping missions around the globe. He is esteemed as a former president of the Canadian Space Agency and deputy minister of Veterans Affairs.