Canada's new top general
RCAF C-17 Globemaster takes off.
Credits: EROME LESSARD/THE INTELLIGENCER/QMI AGENCY
OTTAWA - A shake-up in Canada's military brass will see a new general taking charge of the Royal Canadian Air Force in the next few weeks.
Maj.-Gen. Yvan Blondin will be promoted to lieutenant general and take over command of the air force.
The former CF-18 fighter pilot will replace Lt.-Gen. Andre Deschamps, who is retiring from the military.
Maj.-Gen. Alain Parent has been promoted to lieutenant general and has been named deputy commander of North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), in Colorado Springs, Colo.
The position at NORAD opened after the outgoing deputy commander, Lt.-Gen. Tom Lawson, was tapped to become Canada's next chief of defence staff (CDS).
Lawson is set to replace Gen. Walt Natynczyk as CDS in the next few weeks.
Defence Minister Peter MacKay announced a raft of changes in military leadership late Friday.
"These promotions and appointments ensure that our men and women of the Canadian Forces continue to benefit from the strong leadership and support that they deserve," MacKay said in a statement.
