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.
Career
Deschamps 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
| Ribbon | Description | Notes |
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Order of Military Merit (CMM) |
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Gulf and Kuwait Medal |
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General Campaign Star |
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Special Service Medal |
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Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal |
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Canadian Peacekeeping Service Medal | |
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NATO Medal |
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NATO Medal |
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Canadian Forces' Decoration (CD) |
He was a qualified RCAF Pilot and as such wore the Royal Air Canadian Forces Pilot Wings.
Notes
- ^ Known as Air Command until 2011
References
- ^ a b 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.