Jennie Carignan

General

Jennie Carignan

CMM MSC MSM CD
General; Jennie Carignan; CMM MSC MSM CD
	Carignan in 2024
Birth name	Marie Annabelle Jennie Carignan
Born	1968 (age 57–58); Asbestos, Quebec, Canada
Allegiance	Canada
Branch	Canadian Army
Service years	1986–present
Rank	General
Commands	Chief of the Defence Staff (2024–present); Chief, Professional Conduct and Culture (2021–2024); Commander, NATO Mission Iraq (2019–2020); Chief of Staff of Army Operations (2016–2018)
Awards	Meritorious Service Medal; Canadian Forces' Decoration; Order of Military Merit;
Alma mater	Royal Military College of Canada (BEng); Université Laval (MBA); United States Army Command and General Staff College (ILE, MMAS);
Spouse	Eric Lefrançois
Children	4

General Marie Annabelle Jennie Carignan (born 1968) is a Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) officer who has served as Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS) since July 2024. Born in Quebec, Carignan graduated as a military engineer from the Royal Military College of Canada (RMCC) in Kingston, Ontario. She served as an officer in combat engineering regiments in various Canadian military actions in the 1990s and 2000s including: the Golan Heights; Bosnia; and Afghanistan. As a full colonel, Carignan became Commandant of the Royal Military College Saint-Jean in 2013.

When Carignan was promoted to brigadier-general, in June 2016, she became the first Canadian female general from a combat command. She was promoted again in 2019, to major-general, and commanded NATO forces in Iraq. In 2021, she was promoted to lieutenant-general, and became CAF’s first chief for Professional Conduct and Culture. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced she would become the first woman to serve as CDS on 3 July 2024. The appointment and promotion to general took effect on 18 July 2024, with the change of command ceremony.