Prime Minister Announces New Chief of Defence Staff

Prime Minister Jean Chrétien today announced that Lieutenant-General Maurice Baril has been promoted to the rank of General and appointed Chief of the Defence Staff, effective immediately. Prior to this appointment, General Baril was Commander, Land Force Command. General Baril has had a distinguished career in the Canadian Forces, with assignments ranging from serving in Cyprus to that of Military Advisor to the Secretary-General of the United Nations.

The Prime Minister took this opportunity to express his gratitude to Vice-Admiral Larry Murray for serving as Acting Chief of the Defence Staff and for his leadership during this exceedingly difficult period for the Canadian Forces. The Prime Minister also announced that Vice-Admiral Larry Murray has accepted an offer to join the domestic Public Service and be appointed as an Associate Deputy Minister, effective November 17, 1997.

Biographical notes attached.

PMO Press Office: (613) 957-5555

Date of Birth: September 1943

Education: Studies at the University of Ottawa

Professional Experience

June 1995 to Present
Commander, Land Force Quebec Area (Montreal), then Commander, Land Force Command Headquarters (St. Hubert)

July 1990 - June 1995
Commandant, Combat Training Centre, Canadian Forces Base (Gagetown, New Brunswick), then Military Advisor for the Department of Peacekeeping Operations, United Nations Headquarters (New York)

March 1986 - July 1990
Director, Land Operations, Training and Resources and Director of Infantry, then Director General, Land Doctrine Operations, National Defence Headquarters (Ottawa)

July 1984 - March 1986
Director, Land Studies, then Deputy Commandant, Canadian Forces Command and Staff College (Toronto, Ontario)

July 1982 - July 1984
Commandant, Infantry School, Combat Training Centre (Gagetown, New Brunswick)

May 1979 - July 1982
Deputy Commanding Officer, 3rd Battalion, Royal 22nd Regiment, then Commanding Officer, 2nd Battalion, Royal 22nd Regiment (Valcartier, Quebec). From June to October 1979, served as Deputy Zone Commander of the Canadian Contingent United Nations Forces in Nicosia, Cyprus

June 1977 - May 1979
Officer Commanding "B" Company, 1er Battalion, Royal 22nd Regiment (Lahr, Germany)

January 1975 - June 1977
Completed Canadian Forces Land Forces Command and Staff Course (Kingston) and graduated from École Supérieur de Guerre (Paris)

September 1972 - January 1975
Operations Officer, "A" District (Nicosia, Cyprus), then Operations Officer and later Adjutant, 3rd Battalion, Royal 22nd Regiment (Valcartier, Quebec)

August 1964- September 1972
Joined the Canadian Army (Regular), and went on to serve on regimental duty, at the Airborne School in Rivers, Manitoba, the Canadian Airborne Regiment at the Recruit School and at the Canadian Forces Staff School.