The Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS) (French: le Chef d'état-major de la défense) is the senior member of the Canadian Forces and reports directly to the Minister of National Defence. It has been the highest ranking position in the Canadian military since the unification of the Canadian Army, Royal Canadian Navy, and Royal Canadian Air Force in 1968. Prior to that, a similar position was held by the chairman of the Chiefs of Staff. While the Canadian Monarch is Commander-in-Chief of the Canadian Forces – a role and title delegated to the Governor General since 1904 – and therefore formally the CDS's superior, in practice the CDS receives direction from the Minister of National Defence and the Prime Minister. The Chief of the Defence Staff is also ex-officio the Principal Commander of the Order of Military Merit.
Since 2005, the CDS has been General Rick Hillier.
Chiefs of the Defence Staff
- Air Chief Marshal Frank Robert Miller 1964–1966
- General Jean-Victor Allard 1966–1969
- General Frederick Ralph Sharp 1969–1972
- General Jacques Alfred Dextraze 1972–1977
- Admiral Robert Hilborn Falls 1977–1980
- General Ramsey Muir Withers 1980–1983
- General Gérard Charles Édouard Thériault 1983–1986
- General Paul David Manson 1986–1989
- General John de Chastelain 1989–1993
- Admiral John Rogers Anderson 1993
- General John de Chastelain 1994–1995
- General Joseph Édouard Jean Boyle 1996
- Vice-Admiral Larry Murray (Acting) 1996–1997
- General Maurice Baril 1997–2001
- General Raymond Henault 2001–2005
- General Rick Hillier 2005–present
