Paul Wynnyk


Paul Francis Wynnyk, is a former Canadian Army officer who served from 2016 to 2018 as Commander of the Canadian Army. On July 16, 2018, he was named Vice Chief of the Defence Staff, until his resignation and retirement in July 2019.

Early life

Paul Wynnyk is of Ukrainian descent, the grandson of emigrants in Alberta from Radvantsi, Lviv region, in Western Ukraine. He was born in Edmonton on June 29, 1964, and was raised in the village of Breton, Alberta.

Military career

Wynnyk attended Royal Roads Military College and the Royal Military College of Canada, and he was commissioned into the Canadian Military Engineers in 1986. He became commanding officer of 1 Combat Engineer Regiment in Edmonton in 1997, commander of 1 Area Support Group in 2004 and Assistant Commanding General at the Combined Security Transition Command – Afghanistan in March 2009. He went on to be commander of Land Force Western Area in 2010, Deputy Commander of the Canadian Army in 2012 and Commander of the Canadian Forces Intelligence Command and Chief of Defence Intelligence in July 2014.
In January 2016, it was announced that he would become Chief of the Army Staff and Commander of the Canadian Army. In his speech during the ceremony, Wynnyk gave credit to his parents for supporting him on the path to this point in his career. "My mom Joan, who is here today, has watched and supported my journey in uniform from cub scout, to army cadet, to reservist, to regular officer," he said. About his late father Walter, Wynnyk said, "As both my high school principal and the commanding officer of my army cadet corps, it was he who encouraged me to embark upon a career of military service. On July 16, 2018, he was named Vice Chief of the Defence Staff.
In July 2019, Wynnyk resigned as Vice Chief of the Defence Staff after he claimed that Chief of the Defence Staff General Jonathan Vance planned to replace him as the Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff with Vice-Admiral Mark Norman. Wynnyk then claimed these plans were reversed when Vice-Admiral Norman settled with the government and retired from the military. Wynnyk was the fifth vice-chief to serve under Vance.

Post-military career

In October 2019, Wynnyk was appointed as Deputy Minister of Municipal Affairs for the Government of Alberta.

Awards and decorations

Wynnyk's personal awards and decorations include the following:
RibbonDescriptionNotes
Order of Military Merit
  • Appointed Commander on 26 September 2013
  • Appointed Officer on 21 September 2006
Meritorious Service Medal
  • Decoration awarded on 26 April 2011
  • Military division
    • South-West Asia Service Medal
  • with AFGHANISTAN Clasp
    • General Campaign Star
  • with 1 rotation Clasp
    • Special Service Medal
  • with NATO-OTAN Clasp
    • Canadian Peacekeeping Service Medal
    United Nation Advance Mission in Cambodia Medal
  • UNAMIC
    • United Nation Transitional Authority in Cambodia Medal
  • UNTAC
    • United Nation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo Medal
  • MONUC / MONUSCO
    • Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal
  • Decoration awarded in 2012
  • Canadian version
    • Canadian Forces Decoration
  • with two Clasp for 32 years of services
    • Alberta Centennial Medal
  • Decoration awarded in 2005
    • Order of Military Merit
  • Decoration awarded 28 July 2018
  • Grand Officer level
  • Federative Republic of Brazil award
    • Order of Military Merit José María Córdova
  • Decoration awarded 29 September 2018
  • Grand Cross level
  • Republic of Colombia award
    • Baryaal Darajaah Uak Medal
  • Decoration awarded 4 February 2011
  • Successful 1st Grade
  • Islamic Republic of Afghanistan award
    • Legion of Merit
  • Decoration awarded 28 May 2011
  • Officer level
  • United States award
    • He was a qualified Paratrooper and as such wore the Canadian Forces Jump Wings
    Command Commendation