Lieutenant-General Joseph Paul André Deschamps, CMM, CD, usually André Deschamps or J P A Deschamps, was Chief of the Air Staff and then Commander of the Royal Canadian Air Force between 2009 and 2012.
Joseph Paul André Deschamps | |
|---|---|
| Allegiance | Canada |
Branch | Royal Canadian Air Force[a] |
Service years | 1977-2012 |
Rank | Lieutenant General |
| Commands | Squadron 2, NAB Geilenkirchen 8 Wing Trenton Royal Canadian Air Force |
Conflicts | War in Afghanistan |
| Awards | Commander of the Order of Military Merit Canadian Forces' Decoration |
Career
editDeschamps joined the Canadian Forces in 1977, and completed pilot training the following year. As a junior officer Deschamps carried out instructor duties on the Musketeer trainer. He later flew the CF-104 Starfighter in Europe during the Cold War.[1]
Deschamps served as the Commanding Officer of Squadron 2, NATO Air Base Geilenkirchen, Germany, and became Commanding Officer of 8 Wing Trenton in 2004, and then commanded the Theatre Support Element (Camp Mirage) in support of Operation Athena in Afghanistan.[1] He was appointed Chief of Staff - Operations of Canadian Expeditionary Force Command in 2006, Assistant Chief of the Air Staff in June 2008[2] and Chief of the Air Staff in October 2009. It was during his tenure that Air Command was renamed the "Royal Canadian Air Force".[3]
Honours
edit
| Ribbon | Description | Notes |
| Order of Military Merit (CMM) |
|
| Gulf and Kuwait Medal |
|
| General Campaign Star |
|
| Special Service Medal |
|
| Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal |
|
| Canadian Peacekeeping Service Medal | |
| NATO Medal |
|
| NATO Medal |
|
| Canadian Forces' Decoration (CD) | |
He was a qualified RCAF Pilot and as such wore the Royal Air Canadian Forces Pilot Wings.
Notes
edit- ↑ Known as Air Command until 2011
References
edit- 1 2 Keep Calm and Carry On
- ↑ Minister of National Defence announces senior promotions and appointments Archived May 24, 2010, at the Wayback Machine Canadian American Strategic Review, 26 January 2009
- ↑ Canadian Navy, Air Force 'Royal' Again With Official Name Change Huffington Post, 15 August 2011
- ↑ "André Deschamps Order of Military Merit Citation". Governor General of Canada. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
- ↑ "André Deschamps Diamond Jubilee Medal Citation". Governor General of Canada. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
- ↑ "Lieutenant-General Joseph Paul André Deschamps, CMM, CD Commander – Royal Canadian Air Force 2011 to 2012 Chief of the Air Staff 2009 to 2011" (PDF). Blatherwick. Retrieved 28 June 2022.