Lieutenant-General Wayne Eyre assumed command of Military Personnel Command from Lieutenant-General Charles Lamarre during a ceremony held today at Cartier Square Drill Hall in Ottawa. Lieutenant-General Paul Wynnyk, Vice Chief of the Defence Staff, presided over the ceremony.
The Commander of Military Personnel Command oversees about 14,000 military and civilian personnel who are responsible for the overall personnel management of the Canadian Armed Forces. Personnel management covers a wide spectrum, including recruitment, training and education, benefits, health services, honours and history, and corporate and personnel support.
Since July 2018, Lieutenant-General Eyre has served as Deputy Commander of United Nations Command Korea. Previous to that, he served as Deputy Commander of Military Personnel Command for two years.
After a military career spanning 38 years, Lieutenant-General Lamarre is retiring. He and his wife Ellen will remain in Ottawa, enjoying their nearby cottage, and spending time with their sons Christopher, Paul and Thomas.
"I want to thank Lieutenant-General Chuck Lamarre and his team at Military Personnel Command for their work over the last two years in implementing policies and programs that enable us to better support our women and men in uniform, and their families. I am looking forward to working with Lieutenant-General Wayne Eyre, who will provide the kind of strong leadership needed to continue that momentum within Military Personnel Command."
General Jonathan H. Vance, Chief of the Defence Staff
"I am proud to take over as Commander of Military Personnel Command and to work with this team that has accomplished so much these last few years. People are the military's most important resource and I will continue to ensure that supporting our people and their families is our top priority. My predecessor, Lieutenant-General Lamarre, has left some big shoes to fill. I learned much from him over the years, and plan to keep the Command on the same trajectory to deliver on our many initiatives."
Lieutenant-General Wayne Eyre, incoming Commander of Military Personnel Command
"Serving as Commander of Military Personnel Command for the last two years has been a tremendous honour. To contribute to the wellbeing of our military members and their families has been a great privilege. I would like to extend my thanks to the team around me and our partners within the department and government for the work they have done in modernizing how we recruit, support and transition our members. I am confident that the Command will be in good hands under the leadership of Lieutenant-General Eyre."
Lieutenant-General Charles Lamarre, outgoing Commander of Military Personnel Command
Quick facts
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On behalf of the Chief of the Defence Staff, Military Personnel Command provides functional direction and guidance to the Canadian Armed Forces on all matters pertaining to the management of military personnel. Key tasks include:
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- To recruit, train and educate, prepare, support, honour and recognize military personnel and their families for service to Canada.
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- To develop and implement strategies, policies and programs that foster and maintain the profession of arms as an honourable and desirable career.
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- To monitor compliance with Canadian Armed Forces personnel management policies and be accountable for the Canadian Armed Forces personnel system.
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- To eliminate harmful and inappropriate behaviour in the Canadian Armed Forces.
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- To increase diversity by focusing on recruiting and retaining under-represented populations within the Canadian Armed Forces including women, Indigenous peoples and members of visible minorities.
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- To continue to provide fully engaged, personalized and guided support to all Canadian Armed Forces members to seamlessly transition to post-military life.
