Lieutenant-General J.J.M.J. Paul, CMM, MSC, CD

MGen St-Louis

Lieutenant-General J.J.M.J. Paul,
CMM, MSC, CD

Commander Canadian Army

Lieutenant-General Jocelyn (Joe) Paul was born and raised in the First Nations' community of Wendake, Quebec, and is a member of the Huron-Wendat First Nation. He enrolled as a reservist and infantry officer in 1988 and served with Régiment du Saguenay and Régiment de Maisonneuve.

Before enrolling in the Regular Force, he obtained a Bachelor's degree in History from the Université du Québec à Chicoutimi (1988) and a Master's in Anthropology from the Université de Montréal (1991).

He joined the Regular Force in 1991 and was assigned to 3rd Battalion Royal 22e Régiment. He deployed to Croatia in 1993 as a platoon commander with 1st Battalion Royal 22e Régiment.

Promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel in summer 2005, he worked at the Army G3 cell and assumed command of 2nd Battalion Royal 22e Régiment and of the Citadel in Québec City in 2008. He then had the privilege of commanding the 2nd Battalion Royal 22e Régiment Battle Group (TF 1-09), which was deployed in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan, from April to October 2009. Promoted to the rank of Colonel in June 2010, he took command of the Counter-Improvised Explosive Device Task Force and later was appointed Commander of the Canadian Manoeuvre Training Centre, Wainwright, Alberta. Following his promotion to the rank of Brigadier-General, he assumed command of Task Force Jerusalem (Operation PROTEUS).

Upon return to Canada in July 2015, he was seconded for two years to the Privy Council Office after which he was appointed Chief of Staff (COS), Canadian Forces Intelligence Command. In June 2018, he assumed command of 4th Canadian Division and Joint Task Force Central. In July 2019, he was promoted to the rank of Major-General and assumed the position of Director General International Security Policy. Promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-General in 2021, was appointed as Deputy Commander Allied Joint Forces Command in Naples, Italy. Lieutenant General Paul was appointed Commander Canadian Army on 16 June 2022. He is the 51st Army Commander and first Indigenous CAF member to hold this position. 

LGen Paul was awarded the Meritorious Service Cross for the performance of his unit in Kandahar and the United States Legion of Merit Award for his service as Deputy of the US Security Coordinator (USSC) in Jerusalem. He is a graduate of the USMC Command and Staff College, the USMC School of Advanced Warfighting and the Canadian Forces National Security Program.

A dedicated hunter and fisherman, he likes to roam in the Canadian wilderness. He enjoys playing an occasional game of hockey or round of golf, even though he has absolutely no talent for either sport. He is married and is a proud father of two young adults.

Commander’s statements

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