Gen. Wayne Eyre says he has no idea who's replacing him as top military commander

The Canadian military is expecting to get a new top commander on July 18, 2024.

Who it will be appears to be anybody's guess at this point — and even the current chief of the defence staff says he has no idea who is replacing him.

In an interview with CBC News on Wednesday, Gen. Wayne Eyre said the date for the change of command ceremony has been set but the federal government has not yet revealed who will take over.

"We do know that the change of command will be the 18th of July," said Eyre, who — according to several defence department sources — had advocated for a gap of at least two months between his successor's appointment and his departure.

"We know [now] any handover period is going to be greatly abbreviated, which increases risk to the institution," Eyre said. 

In terms of briefing his successor, he said he'll pass along as much information as he can, "and I make myself available in retirement to continue to pass on what I have learned in this position." 

Eyre signalled in January that he was planning to retire this summer after 40 years in uniform. At the time, the Prime Minister's Office congratulated him in a media statement and thanked him for his service.

Asked recently when a replacement would be named, a spokesperson for the prime minister said it might be a while and offered no specifics. On Wednesday, the same spokesperson confirmed the announcement could come before next month's NATO Summit on July 9-11, but couldn't say for certain. 

Several names have been floated as possible replacements. The one heard most often is Lt.-Gen. Jennie Carignan, the current head of conduct and culture within the military.

Other names have included Vice-Admiral Bob Auchterlonie, current head of the military's operations command, and Maj.-Gen. Paul Prévost, the director of the strategic joint staff — the nerve centre of military planning.

Eyre has been in the job since February 2021, when he replaced the now-retired admiral Art McDonald as defence chief. McDonald stepped aside after allegations of sexual misconduct surfaced — claims that military police later decided not to pursue.

Eyre, the former commander of the Canadian Army, took over an institution in crisis as many senior leaders of the Armed Forces faced allegations of inappropriate behaviour.

He was appointed at first on an acting basis and given the permanent role in November 2021.

The fact that he was dropped, unprepared, into the middle of a crisis led him to insist on a careful, orderly transition.

"I can tell you coming into this job with no handover is not not the way to do business," Eyre said, "and I want to do everything I can to set up my successor, and more importantly the institution, for success."

Although there is no term limit, the country's defence chief typically serves for roughly three years.

Over the past several months, Eyre has been increasingly vocal about the challenges facing the Canadian military, including an acute shortage of personnel, outdated equipment and constant demands for military support, particularly in response to domestic crises.

He also has been a lightning rod for some of the political and social discontent swirling around the military. His handling of some aspects of the sexual misconduct crisis — particularly the treatment of some of the accused senior officers — has been criticized. Eyre is named personally in two lawsuits filed by now-retired generals who have faced accusations and charges.

The lack of a decision on Eyre's replacement is holding up a major overhaul of the senior ranks of the military. Several top commanders are slated to retire soon.