General (Retired) Wayne Eyre, CMM, MSC, CD - honoris causa
General (Gen) Wayne Eyre began his military journey as Army Cadet at 12 years of age, and then served in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) for over 40 years, finishing as the Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS).
He attended Royal Roads Military College and Royal Military College of Canada. Upon commissioning he joined the 2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI), and had the great privilege of spending the majority of his career in command or deputy command positons, including 3rd Battalion PPCLI, 2 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group, 3rd Canadian Division and Joint Task Force West, XVIII (U.S.) Airborne Corps, United Nations Command Korea, Military Personnel Command, and Commander Canadian Army.
Operationally, Gen Eyre served on many deployments at home and around the world. He commanded a rifle platoon with the United Nations Force in Cyprus; 2 PPCLI’s Reconnaissance Platoon with the UN Protection Force in Croatia (including the Battle of Medak Pocket); a rifle company with NATO’s Stabilization Force in Bosnia; the Canadian Operational Mentor and Liaison Team in Kandahar, Afghanistan; as the Commanding General of NATO Training Mission – Afghanistan; and as the first non-U.S. Deputy Commander of United Nations Command Korea in its 69-year history, and as such was the most senior Canadian officer ever permanently stationed in the Asia Pacific region.
Gen Eyre assumed the CDS role on February 24, 2021, and finished on July 18, 2024. As the commander of the CAF and military advisor to the Prime Minister and Cabinet, he led Canada’s military through an unprecedented confluence of international and domestic crises and rapidly evolving security stressors, which together he has characterized as a turning point in history.
Amongst others, Gen Eyre is a graduate of the U.S. Army Special Forces Qualification Course, the U.S. Marine Corps Command and Staff College, the U.S. Marine Corps School of Advanced Warfighting, and the U.S. Army War College. He holds a Bachelor of Science and three master’s degrees (Military Studies, Operational Studies and Strategic Studies). His decorations include the Commander of the Order of Military Merit, the Meritorious Service Cross, the Commander-in-Chief Unit Commendation, the Chief of the Defence Staff Commendation, the Order of National Security Merit from South Korea, the National Order of the Star of Romania in the rank of Commander, the French National Order of Merit in the rank of Commander, the Cross of Honour of the German Armed Forces in Gold, the Latvian First Class of the Order of Viesturs, and was four times awarded the U.S. Legion of Merit, including two in the rank of Commander.
Since retirement, among other projects Gen (Retd) Eyre has been writing, speaking, and teaching. He is a Senior Fellow and Visiting Professor at the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs at the University of Ottawa.