Women General Officers of the Canadian Army
(Patrick Woodbury/Archives Le Droit)
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.
As of December 2024, women comprised approximately 16.6 per cent of the regular force and primary reserve in the CAF: 19.9 per cent of officers and 15.5 per cent of non-commissioned members. Women made up 20.6 per cent of the navy, 20.2 per cent of the air force, and 14.2 per cent of the army.
As of 2025, approximately 40 women had been promoted to flag officer (navy) or general officer (army/air force) rank in the Canadian Armed Forces. Sheila Hellstrom became the first female brigadier-general in 1987. Wendy Clay was the first woman promoted to major general (1994) and Chris Whitecross was the first female lieutenant-general (2015). In the navy, Laraine Orthlieb became the first woman to hold flag rank when she was promoted to commodore in 1989. In 2011, Jennifer Bennett became the first woman promoted to rear admiral. In 2021, Josée Kurtz became commandant and vice-chancellor of the Royal Military College of Canada, the first woman to hold this appointment. In July 2024, Jennie Carignan became the first female to be promoted full general and be appointed chief of the defence staff. On 10 July 2025, Lt.-Gen. Jamie Speiser-Blanchet became the first woman to command the RCAF.
Brigadier-General Guinevere (‘Gwen”) Mae Bourque, OMM, CD
(DND Photo)
Brigadier-General Guinevere (Gwen) Bourque enrolled in the Canadian Armed Forces in 1992. She started her military career as Medical Assistant in 16 Medical Company then became an Administration Clerk with the North Saskatchewan Regiment in Saskatoon. In 2002 she took her commission and trained as a Logistics Officer.
In 2005, she crossed trained in Civil Military Affairs. She was selected for deployment as part of the 1 PPCLI Battle Group deploying to Afghanistan on Operation Archer Roto 1 in January 2006. Brigadier-General Bourque was presented with the CEFCOM Commanders Citation for her accomplishments with advancing a more effects based approach to CIMIC operations.
In 2008, Brigadier-General Bourque transferred to the 38 Service Battalion as the Officer Commanding 16 Service Company. In 2011 she was appointed Deputy Commander of 38 Service Battalion and then assumed Command of the Battalion in 2015.
In 2017, she was appointed Commander of a Multi-National Task Force comprised of troops from 3 NATO Countries during Exercise Golden Coyote conducted in the United States.
Brigadier-General Bourque is a graduate of the Joint Command and Staff College. In addition, she has completed her Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies at Royal Roads University specializing in Leadership and Digital Transformation.
Brigadier-General Bourque attended college and graduated with a Computer Systems Technology Associates Degree in 1997. After college she was hired at Saskatchewan Polytechnic in Saskatchewan in the Information Technology Services Division advancing in both responsibility and leadership positions. She is the CIO and Associate Vice President of Information Technology Service responsible for the delivery of all IT services for all campuses which comprises of over 2,000 staff and 17,000 students.
Brigadier-General Bourque has been active in the sports community throughout her life. Playing fastball and continuing to contribute in recent years coaching and acting as Commissioner for all of Saskatoon Under 19 youth fast ball.
Brigadier-General Bourque is married to Dwayne Porter and has two daughters and four grandchildren.
In May of 2019, Brigadier-General Bourque assumed command of 38 Canadian Brigade Group in Winnipeg, Manitoba overseeing the Army in Saskatchewan, Manitoba and part of Northern Ontario. In July 2022, she was appointed the Deputy Commander of 3rd Canadian Division until 25 August 2024. On 29 August 2024, Brigadier-General Bourque was appointed the Deputy Commander Reserve of the Canadian Army Doctrine and Training Centre in Kingston, Ontario.
Brigadier-General Krista Brodie, Canadian Army, VP Logistics and Operations Public Health Agency Canada
(DND Photo)
Brigadier-General Brodie joined the Canadian Armed Forces in 1989. She is a graduate of Royal Roads Military College and was commissioned under the Regular Officer Training Program.
During her time in the Canadian Army, she has commanded platoons, a company and a battalion. Brigadier-General Brodie has also commanded a Formation in the Canadian Joint Operations Command.
She has been deployed to Croatia, Bosnia, and Afghanistan as well as serving with both NATO and the United Nations. With qualifications as an aerial delivery specialist, she also earned American jump wings on exercise with the 2nd Battalion of the 75th Ranger Regiment (U.S). BGen Brodie is married with three children.
Brigadier-General Carla Harding, Canadian Army, A/COS, J4, Supreme HQ Allied Power Europe, Belgium
Born and raised in small-town Saskatchewan, Brigadier-General Harding joined the military out of high school in June 1990. She enrolled as an Army Supply Officer, with a view to completing her education at Royal Military College in Kingston. Upon graduation
from RMC in 1994, Brigadier-General Harding was posted to 2 Service Battalion in Petawawa, where, throughout the years, she is proud to have served alongside the exceptional soldiers of 2 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group and the Army writ large,
both at home and abroad.
While at 2 Service Battalion, Brigadier-General Harding had the privilege of leading the superb technicians and soldiers of the unit as a platoon commander, company commander and culminating as the 24th Commanding Officer of the Battalion from 2013-2015.
In 2001, just prior to 9/11, Brigadier-General Harding was posted to the National Defence Logistics Coordination Centre, which was the start of many joint logistics opportunities throughout her career. In addition to supporting deployed operations as both a J3 and J4 desk officer, she also has operational experience with NATO in Bosnia, two tours in Afghanistan and a year-long posting to Israel and Palestine as a member of the United States Security Cooperation team. Key highlights of her career include postings as the Army G4 Operations, Commander of the Canadian Forces Joint Operational Support Group and, most recently, the Director General Support at Canadian Joint Operations Command. Her passion for tactical and technical excellence is a driving factor for demanding the best from the soldiers, sailors and aviators who serve within the greater operational support community.
Brigadier-General Harding has a Masters of Arts in Defence Management, Security and Policy, a Masters in Defence Studies and most recently a Masters of Science in National Resource Strategy. She is a graduate of the Canadian Forces College and a
Distinguished Graduate of the Eisenhower School. She was awarded the Order of Military Merit in December 2015.
Brigadier-General Harding currently serves as the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe J4 in Casteau, Belgium. On a personal note, she is an avid traveler, often pairing outdoor adventure off the beaten track with a quest for the local foodie
experience.
Brigadier-General Corinna Heilman, Canadian Army, Strategic J4 at NDHQ
(DND Photo)
Brigadier-General (BGen) Heilman enrolled in the Canadian Armed Forces in 1994 and was posted to 2 Service Battalion following graduation from the Royal Military College. Serving with 2 Service Battalion, 2 General Support Battalion, 2 Field Ambulance, and 1
Service Battalion, BGen Heilman had the privilege of commanding at every level, including as the Commanding Officer 2 Service Battalion in 2015. Most recently, she completed command at the Royal Military College of Canada as the Director of Cadets
from 2017-2019.
BGen Heilman deployed to Kabul, Afghanistan as part of Operation ATHENA in 2003. As a staff officer, BGen Heilman served in a variety of operations, plans and institutional positions within the Canadian Army Headquarters, Canadian Expeditionary Force
Command, Director General Material Systems and Supply Chain, and with the Strategic Joint Staff.
BGen Heilman is a graduate of the Royal Military College, the Canadian Forces College Joint Command and Staff Programme, and the Eisenhower School National Security Programme. In addition to a Bachelors of Arts degree, she holds a Masters of Defence
Studies and a Masters of Science (National Resource Strategy). BGen Heilman recently served as the Director General Support at the Strategic Joint Staff and has joined the Chief Professional Conduct and Culture as the Chief of Staff Operations. BGen Heilman is the proud parent of two young adults.
Brigadier-General Hilary Jaeger, Canadian Army, Surgeon General
Jaeger joined a reserve unit in Nova Scotia at the age of 17 while working towards a bachelor of science degree in mathematics at Acadia University, where she also graduated at the top of the engineering program. She went on to study aerospace engineering at Iowa State University, later enrolling in U of T’s Faculty of Medicine and graduating as a doctor of medicine in 1986.
“I received a first-rate medical education at U of T that fostered critical inquiry and gradually built a balance of confidence and humility that has stood me in good stead when judgment calls had to be made,” said Jaeger. “Whether that was looking after a Crohn’s disease patient in the Northwest Territories, triaging the victims of mortar fire in Sarajevo or assessing the standard of health care available to Canadian Forces members outside Canada, my education supported me along the way.”
Jaeger was deployed to Sarajevo in 1992 as the senior medical officer and the officer commanding the national support element. In 1994 she returned to the Balkans to command the forward surgical team.
In Canada, she became the first woman and, so far, the only medical officer assigned to teach at the Canadian Land Forces Command and Staff College. In 2004, she was promoted to brigadier general and appointed surgeon general of the Canadian Forces — a job she held for five years. Then, Jaeger was seconded to Veterans Affairs Canada, where she promoted evidence-based practice in the management of military service-related health problems and disabilities.
Brigadier-General Josée Robidoux, Canadian Army, Deputy Commander 2nd Canadian Division
(Le Soleil, Caroline Grégoire Photo)
Brigadier-General Josée Robidoux, OMM, CD (Retired) is native of the Eastern Township, Québec. She joined the Air Cadets in 1979 with the 67th Air Cadet Squadron in Sherbrooke and then the Primary Reserve at 714 (Sherbrooke) Communication Squadron in April 1985. She progressed to the rank of Captain serving as Troop Commander, Operations Officer, Training Officer, and Adjutant. In 1992, she transferred to 71 Communication Group Headquarters in the Staff Officer Reserve position.
In June 1998, she was posted to Information Management Group. Promoted to the rank of Major, she assumed responsibility for Communication Reserve (Personnel Management and Benefits) and later became the Commanding Officer of the IM Group Primary Reserve List. In April 2004, she was appointed Commandant of the Communication Reserve Recruit and Leadership School in Shilo, Manitoba. Upon her return to Ottawa, she was appointed the senior staff officer responsible for training and operations at the Communication Reserve Headquarters.
In March 2005, she was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel and assumed command of 71 Communication Group; a position she held until 2008. While commanding, she also held the position of G1 Personnel and was responsible for personnel operations, policy, and management at Army Headquarters.
On 1 July 2010, Josée was promoted Colonel and subsequently appointed as Director of Reserves within the Chief Reserve and Cadets Division of the VCDS Group. Ms. Robidoux deployed to Kabul, Afghanistan in July 2011 where she served as the senior advisor to the Afghan National Army Chief of Training and Force Structure as well as the Chief of Advisors for the NATO Training Mission in Afghanistan. In August 2013, she was posted to 2nd Division, Canadian Army as Assistant Chief of Staff (Reserves). On 13 June 2015, she assumed command of 35e Canadian Brigade Group in Québec City. On 10 June 2017, she was promoted to Brigadier-General and became the Deputy Commander 2 Canadian Division and Joint Task Force East. She was concurrently appointed Director General Reserves and Employer Support on 16 Oct 2017.
Ms. Robidoux retired from the Canadian Armed Forces in October 2019 and is now the Director Integration of Gender Perspective and the Chief of Defense Staff Gender Advisor.
Ms. Robidoux is a graduate of the Land Force Command Staff College and of the Canadian Forces College in Toronto where she completed the Joint Reserve Command and Staff Course (JRCSC) and the National Security Program at the Canadian Forces College (NSP 6). In 2010, she received the Chief of Land Staff Commendation for her exemplary leadership. She was named one of the Canada’s 100 Most Powerful Women in the Women in Defence recognition program from Esprit de Corps in 2016, and was invested in the Order of Military Merit at the grade of Officer in December 2017.
Brigadier-General Patricia Samson, Canadian Army, Provost Marshal
Patricia Samson was born in 1946 and joined the Canadian Forces as a Military Police Officer in 1977. Twenty years later, on 01 July 1997, Colonel Samson was appointed Canadian Forces Provost Marshall. On 08 February 1999, she was promoted to Brigadier-General and remained the Provost Marshal.
BGen Samson was the Canadian Forces Provost Marshal from 01 July 1997 until July 2001. From July 2001 to July 2002, she was the Director General Intelligence (J2) for the Canadian Forces. She retired in July 2002. after 24 years of distinguished service.
Her replacement, LCol Dorothy (‘Dot’) A. Cooper, was promoted to Colonel in August 2000 and took over at the Provost Marshal in July 2001.
BGen Samson was awarded the Officer of the Order of Military Merit (OMM) as per the Canada Gazette of 20 June 1998 in the rank of Colonel.
Brigadier-General Danielle Savard, Project Leader, Military Personnel Management Capability Transformation
Brigadier-General Marie Céline Danielle Savard, OMM, MSM, CD, Project Leader – Military Personnel Management Capability Transformation. Danielle graduated from Cegep de Chicoutimi with a Science degree in 1985 and from the University of Laval with a degree in Pharmacy in 1989 and joined the Canadian Forces. She did a tour of duty with UNPROFOR and in Afghanistan.
She served as Commanding Officer of the Role 3 Multinational Medical Unit in Afghanistan from April to October 2009 as a Colonel in the Canadian Forces Health Services and received the Meritorious Service Medal (MSM) as per the Canada Gazette of 13 August 2011 with the following citation:
“As commanding officer of the Role 3 Multinational Medical Unit in Afghanistan from April to October 2009, Colonel Savard’s notable leadership ensured the provision of world class care to Canadian, coalition and Afghan personnel. In addition to ensuring her multinational team had the necessary equipment and training to treat patients under any circumstance, she helped develop mentoring programs that improved the capacity and capability of the Afghan National Army Medical Corps. Colonel Savard’s
outstanding professionalism and medical skills were critical to preserving the fighting strength of coalition forces in Afghanistan and brought great credit to the Canadian Forces.”
She served as a pharmacist in the Canadian Forces ultimately reaching the rank of Colonel and becoming the Director of Military Career and Administration (DMCA) from July 2012 to February 2016. This Directorate directs and controls all conduct administrative reviews of members whose conduct or medical status no longer meet CF standards; coordinates the CF Drug Control Program; coordinates DWD program; and administer CF release and Transfer off Strength administration including audit of files for both Regular and Reserve Members, and audit files of members that have requested the PIL of Severance pay, and provide post-release support to retired CF personnel such as issuance of NDI 75 and certification of former service. As the SME in releases give guidelines to the DMCPG in regards of policies.
She then attended the NATO Defence College in Rome, Italy from February 2016 to July 2016 as a graduate student. Following completion of this program, she returned to National Defence Headquarters in Ottawa at the Director of Military Careers, Policy and Grievances from August 2016 to January 2017.
In November 2016, she was promoted to Brigadier General (Acting While So Employed) and became the Project Leader of the Military Personnel Management Capability Transformation. She was promoted substantive to the rank of Brigadier General in July 2017 and continued to serve in her current appointment as Director General Military Personnel Management Capability Transformation Project, at NDHQ in Ottawa. Brigadier-General Savard retired in June 2021.
Brigadier-General Virginia Tattersall, Deputy Commander Military Personnel Generation
(DND Photo)
Brigadier-General Virginia Catherine Tattersall, CMM, CD, Deputy Commander at the Military Personnel Generation/Canadian Defence Academy in Kingston National Resource Strategy. BGen Virginia Tattersall was promoted to Brigadier-General (acting
while so employed) in June 2017 and was the Deputy Commander at the Military Personnel Generation/Canadian Defence Academy in Kingston. She was made a substantive Brigadier-General in 2018. She was appointed Director General, Compensation and Benefits, at Military Personnel Command, in Ottawa in June 2019.
Brigadier-General Tattersall joined the Forces in 1985 and graduated from the Royal Military College with a Bachelor of Arts (Political Science and History). She later earned a Master’s degree in Defence Science from RMC. Brigadier-General Tattersall is also a graduate of the Dwight D. Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy in Washington D.C where she earned a Master’s of Science in Positions held included Platoon Commander with 5 Service Battalion (1989-1992), Materiel Control Officer CFB Kingston Base Supply (1992-1994), Quartermaster to 1st Battalion Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (1994 1997), served on the Army Staff (1999-2002), with the Materiel Acquisition and Support Optimization (2003-2004), OC Supply 2 General Support Battalion Petawawa (2004-06), with CANOSCOM HQ (2008-2010) and as the Commanding Officer of the Mission Closure Unit/Op ATHENA Mission Transition Task Force (2010-2011). She then served on the Strategic Joint Staff (2012-2014). Prior to her promotion to Brigadier-General, she was the Commander of the Canadian Materiel Support Group. Staff appointments have included J3 CANOSCOM HQ and J-34 Strategic Joint Staff.
Her operational tours include the United Nations Transitional Authority in Phnom Penh Cambodia, the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force Golan Heights, Camp Faouar, Syria and commanded the Mission Closure Unit/Op ATHENA Mission Transition Task Force in Kandahar, Afghanistan.
She described her tour in Afghanistan as follows: “I started the planning in September 2009, was nominated as commanding officer in 2010, so I did all the planning at the Ottawa level, and then got to repeat all the planning at the unit level to actually get ready to deploy soldiers in mid-April 2011. For me the tour was over like a snap of the fingers but for the soldiers, they’ll tell you it was like Groundhog Day every single day in Afghanistan because they did the same tasks over and over.” She had a team of 1,600 under her command who not only counted every item “once, twice, thrice”, but sorted and checked all items to ensure their condition was such that they could be re-used, and therefore worth returning to Canada.
Although they’re not conventional measurements by any means, her staff calculated they had 132 football fields of equipment to ship back, and that they applied 51km of barcodes to the returning items. They repatriated 245 aircraft loads by CC-177 (C-17 Globemaster IIIs), 62 aircraft loads by CC-130J Hercules and 184 aircraft loads by Antonovs sent through both Cyprus and Kuwait. The Forces also shipped 2,700 sea containers, some of which became part of a national news story, as they were found to have been pilfered and returned to Canada carrying rocks and sand. In December 2022, she was made a Commander of the Order of Military Merit (CMM). She retired in June 2025.