Jonathan Vance
{{Short description|Canadian army general}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=January 2021}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox military person
| honorific_prefix = General
| name = Jonathan Vance
| honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=CAN|MSC|CD|size=100%}}
| image = Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Joe Dunford, and Canadian Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Jonathan Vance (cropped).jpg
| alt =
| caption = Vance in 2018
| nickname = Jon
| birth_name = Jonathan Holbert Vance
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1964|01|03|mf=yes}}
| birth_place = Kingston, Ontario, Canada
| death_date =
| death_place =
| spouse = Kerry Vance
| children =
| alma_mater = Royal Roads Military College (BA)
Royal Military College of Canada (MA)
| allegiance = {{flagicon|Canada}} Canada
| serviceyears = 1982–2021
| branch = {{army|Canada}}
| commands = {{plainlist|
- Chief of the Defence Staff
- Canadian Joint Operations Command
- Task Force Kandahar
- 1 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group
- 2nd Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment
}}
| unit =
| battles = War in Afghanistan
Military intervention against ISIL
| awards = Meritorious Service Cross
Canadian Forces' Decoration
}}
General Jonathan Holbert Vance {{post-nominals|country=CAN|MSC|CD}} (born January 3, 1964) is a retired Canadian Forces officer who served as a general in the Canadian Army. Vance was the Chief of the Defence Staff from 2015 to 2021.
In July 2021, Vance was charged with one count of obstruction of justice, in relation to investigations of sexual misconduct. Prior to this charge, it was alleged he boasted that he was "untouchable" by military police due to his high rank. On March 30, 2022, Vance pleaded guilty to a summary (misdemeanour) charge of obstruction of justice, and subsequently received a conditional discharge.
Early life, education and family
File:180228-D-SW162-2040.jpg of the United States, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Minister of National Defence Harjit Sajjan]]
Vance was born on January 3, 1964, in Kingston, Ontario.{{cite web|title=General Jonathan Vance|url=https://www.nato.int/cps/ua/natohq/who_is_who_125761.htm|access-date=February 19, 2018|publisher=NATO}} At the age of 13, while his father Jack Vance—a Canadian Forces officer—was posted in Lahr, Germany, he joined the Army Cadets.{{Cite web|last=Bussière|first=Michael|date=November 2, 2020|title=General Jonathan Vance — Canada's transformative general says adieu|url=https://www.ottawalife.com/article/general-jonathan-vance-canadas-transformative-general-says-adieu?c=13|website=Ottawa Life}}
His father Jack Vance went on to the rank of lieutenant-general, and served as the Vice Chief of Defence Staff in 1985.{{cite web|title=Jonathan Vance: 6 Facts About Canada's Next Defence Chief|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2015/04/27/new-head-of-canadian-mili_n_7155314.html|publisher=Huffington Post|date=April 27, 2015|access-date=March 14, 2017}}
Vance himself went on to join the Canadian Forces in 1982, attending the Royal Roads Military College where he obtained a bachelor of arts (BA) in military and strategic studies in 1986. He also holds a master of arts (MA) degree in war studies from the Royal Military College of Canada.
His current wife is Kerry Vance (née Mahon), a retired United States Army colonel in the Judge Advocate General's Corps. The couple met when they were both serving in a NATO posting in Naples, Italy.{{Cite web|url=https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/what-you-need-to-know-about-the-military-sexual-misconduct-scandal-involving-gen-vance|title=What you need to know about the military sexual misconduct scandal involving Gen. Vance|first=Tristin|last=Hopper|date=May 7, 2021}}[https://inquinte.ca/story/kerry-vance-wife-of-defence-staff-chief-featured-gala-speaker "Kerry Vance, wife of defence staff chief, featured gala speaker", InQuinte.ca, April 6, 2017.][http://espritdecorps.ca/on-target-4/on-target-the-general-vance-saga-so-many-not-so-secret-secrets On Target: The General Vance Saga: So many not-so-secret-secrets] Esprit de Corps, April 26, 2021
Military career
Upon graduation in 1986, Vance was commissioned in the Canadian Forces as an infantry officer with The Royal Canadian Regiment.{{cite web|url=https://ottawacitizen.com/news/politics/all-eyes-on-new-commander-as-military-faces-significant-challenges|title=All eyes on new commander as military faces significant challenges|author=Lee Berthiaume|work=Ottawa Citizen|access-date=July 20, 2015}} His father, Jack, was serving as the Vice Chief of the Defence Staff when he was commissioned.{{Cite web|date=April 27, 2015|title=Lt.-Gen. Jonathan Vance appointed next chief of defence staff|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/lt-gen-jonathan-vance-appointed-next-chief-of-defence-staff-1.3050238|website=CBC News}}
He served as deputy commander of the Allied Joint Force Command Naples, and commander of the Canadian Task Force in Kandahar, Afghanistan in 2009 and 2010.{{cite web|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2015/04/02/afghan-vet-jonathan-vance-eyed-for-top-general-post.html|title=Afghan vet Jonathan Vance eyed for top general post|date=April 2, 2015|work=thestar.com|access-date=July 20, 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/gen-jonathan-vance-becomes-chief-of-defence-staff-vows-to-tackle-harassment-1.3156520|title=Gen. Jonathan Vance becomes chief of defence staff, vows to tackle harassment|date=July 17, 2015|work=cbc.ca|access-date=July 20, 2015}} He went on to be commander of the Canadian Joint Operations Command in September 2014.
= Chief of the Defence Staff =
On April 27, 2015, Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced that Vance had been selected as the new Chief of the Defence Staff.{{Cite web|last=Canada|first=Service|date=April 27, 2015|title=Prime Minister Stephen Harper announces the upcoming appointment of the new Chief of the Defence Staff|url=https://www.canada.ca/en/news/archive/2015/04/prime-minister-stephen-harper-announces-upcoming-appointment-new-chief-defence-staff.html|access-date=April 11, 2021|website=gcnws}} He formally succeeded General Thomas J. Lawson in the role following a transfer of command ceremony held on July 17, 2015.{{Cite web|last=Brewster|first=Murray|date=July 17, 2015|title='It must stop now': New top soldier vows to end sexual misconduct|url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/it-must-stop-now-new-top-soldier-vows-to-end-sexual-misconduct-1.2474024?cache=%3FcontactForm%3Dtrue|access-date=April 11, 2021|website=CTVNews|language=en}}
= Retirement =
On July 23, 2020, Vance announced his intention to retire as chief of Defence Staff after five years in office, serving until his replacement would be named. Despite being a potential candidate for an upcoming vacancy as chairman of the NATO Military Committee, the federal government announced its intention not to pursue the competition.{{cite news |last1=Brewester |first1=Murray |title=Gen. Jonathan Vance, chief of the defence staff, announces retirement |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/vance-retiring-chief-of-the-defence-staff-1.5660106 |access-date=July 25, 2020 |agency=CBC News |date=July 23, 2020}}
On December 23, 2020, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that Vance would be succeeded by then-Vice Admiral Art McDonald as Chief of the Defence Staff, with the change of command held on January 14, 2021.{{cite web|url=https://www.thechronicleherald.ca/news/provincial/top-military-job-for-new-waterford-man-541128/|title=Top military job for New Waterford man|publisher=Chronicle Herald|access-date=January 14, 2021}}
Misconduct allegations and guilty plea
Shortly following his retirement, a report emerged detailing inappropriate behaviour from Vance towards two female subordinates, at least one of which was allegedly "unwanted",{{Cite web |last=Stephenson |first=Mercedes |last2=Cossette |first2=Marc-André |last3=Connolly |first3=Amanda |date=2021-02-02 |title=Former top soldier Gen. Jonathan Vance facing allegations of inappropriate behaviour with female subordinates: sources |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/7614063/jonathan-vance-sexual-misconduct-operation-honour/ |access-date=2024-11-02 |website=Global News |language=en-US}} possibly violating "directives that govern personal relationships and such actions might contravene provisions in the National Defence Act (NDA) that relate to good order and discipline."{{Cite web|last=Brewster|first=Murray|date=February 3, 2021|title=Former top military commander to be investigated over allegations of inappropriate conduct|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/vance-military-allegations-inappropriate-1.5899324}}
Following the allegations, an investigation into Vance's conduct was launched by the Canadian Forces National Investigation Service, a unit of the Military Police.{{Cite web|title=Military police say they are opening an investigation into Vance allegations|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/7620229/jonathan-vance-investigation-defence-committee/|access-date=February 26, 2021|website=Global News|language=en-US}} Additionally, the House of Commons defence committee voted to study the matter,{{Cite web|title=IN HER WORDS: One of the women behind Vance allegations tells her story|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/7651910/jonathan-vance-investigation-kellie-brennan/|access-date=February 26, 2021|website=Global News|language=en-US}} and the Department of National Defence committed to an external probe into Vance, which has since expanded to "also deal with rising concerns that the issue of sexual misconduct by the senior ranks could be a systemic issue in the Canadian Armed Forces".{{Cite web|title=Military probe into Vance allegations expands to 'unprecedented' levels|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/7655970/gen-vance-probe-expansion-unprecedented/|access-date=February 26, 2021|website=Global News|language=en-US}}
On July 15, 2021, Vance was formally charged with obstruction of justice under Section 139 of the Criminal Code.{{Cite web|date=July 15, 2021|title=Former chief of the defence staff Jonathan Vance charged with obstruction of justice|url=https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/1922250307874|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210716072620/https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/1922250307874|archive-date=July 16, 2021|website=CBC.ca}}{{Cite web |last=Pugliese |first=David |date=2021-07-15 |title=Former defence chief Gen. Jon Vance charged with obstruction of justice |url=https://ottawacitizen.com/news/national/defence-watch/former-defence-chief-gen-jon-vance-charged-with-obstruction-of-justice |access-date=2024-11-02 |website=ottawacitizen.com}} The indictment focuses on allegations made by Major Kellie Brennan that he instructed her to lie when being interviewed by military police investigating charges against him. Vance was reportedly engaged in a 20-year consensual relationship with Brennan, concurrent with his higher rank in the military and fathered two of her eight children. Brennan says that Vance told her that he was "untouchable" and that he "owned" the military police.{{Cite web |title=Gen. Vance boasted he was "untouchable" by military police, Commons committee told |url=https://ottawacitizen.com/news/national/defence-watch/gen-vance-boasted-he-was-untouchable-by-military-police-commons-committee-told |access-date=2022-04-15 |website=ottawacitizen |language=en-CA}}{{Cite web |last=Connolly |first=Amanda |date=2021-04-22 |title=Maj. Kellie Brennan tells MPs Vance said he was 'untouchable,' fathered 2 of her kids |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/7780124/canadian-forces-military-misconduct-kellie-brennan/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210423014802/https://globalnews.ca/news/7780124/canadian-forces-military-misconduct-kellie-brennan/#selection-4193.0-4197.71 |archive-date=April 23, 2021 |access-date=2024-11-02 |website=Global News |language=en-US}} Subsequent paternity testing showed that one child had 99.99991% chance of being fathered by Vance, while the other child did not.{{Cite web |last=Stephenson |first=Mercedes |last2=Cossette |first2=Marc-André |last3=Connolly |first3=Amanda |date=2021-09-16 |title=Vance is 99% match with child born after he said Brennan relationship ended: paternity test |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/8195276/canadian-forces-sexual-misconduct-crisis-jonathan-vance/ |access-date=2024-11-02 |website=Global News |language=en-US}}
No charges were laid against Vance under the military justice system, following a review of the law by Morris Fish, retired justice of the Supreme Court of Canada. Fish concluded that given Vance's high rank, it would not be possible to empanel a military jury, which must be composed of officers of equal or higher rank.{{Cite web |last=Stephenson |first=Mercedes |last2=Cossette |first2=Marc-André |last3=Connolly |first3=Amanda |date=2021-09-15 |title=Vance will not face military service charges; source cites his four-star rank |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/8192806/canadian-forces-sexual-misconduct-class-action-deadline/ |access-date=2024-11-02 |website=Global News}}
On March 30, 2022, Vance pleaded guilty to one count of obstruction of justice in the Ontario Court of Justice in Ottawa.{{Cite web |last=Berthiaume |first=Lee |date=2022-03-30 |title=Former defence chief Vance sentenced to 80 hours community service after guilty plea |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/former-defence-chief-vance-sentenced-to-80-hours-community-service-after-guilty-plea-1.5840860 |access-date=2024-11-02 |website=CTVNews |language=en}} As a result of the guilty plea, he was given a conditional discharge with 80 hours of community service and 12 months of probation.{{Cite web |last=Pugliese |first=David |date=2022-03-31 |title=Gen. Vance pleads guilty to obstruction of justice, receives conditional discharge |url=https://ottawacitizen.com/news/national/defence-watch/gen-vance-pleads-guilty-to-obstruction-of-justice-seeks-discharge |access-date=2024-11-02 |website=ottawacitizen |language=en-CA}}{{Cite web |last=Connolly |first=Amanda |date=2022-03-30 |title=Gen. Jonathan Vance pleads guilty to obstruction of justice, gets conditional discharge |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/8720429/jonathan-vance-guilty-plea-obstruction-of-justice/ |access-date=2024-11-02 |website=Global News |language=en-CA}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/30/world/canada/jonathan-vance-guilty-obstruction.html|title=Ex-Chief of Canada's Military Pleads Guilty to Obstruction in Sex Misconduct Case|first=Ian|last=Austen|newspaper=The New York Times |date=March 30, 2022}} Vance's criminal defence lawyer, Rodney Sellar, also confirmed that due to the turn of events, Vance started to pay child support to Kellie Brennan. Furthermore, Sellar emphasized that Vance's reputation and finances have suffered immensely as a consequence of the criminal charge and subsequent guilty plea.{{Cite news |last=Austen |first=Ian |date=March 30, 2022 |title=Ex-Chief of Canada's Military Pleads Guilty to Obstruction in Sex Misconduct Case |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/30/world/canada/jonathan-vance-guilty-obstruction.html |access-date=April 13, 2022 |issn=0362-4331}} In Canada, a conditional discharge stays on the criminal record for three years after sentencing and thereafter will be sealed by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.{{Cite web |title=Conditional discharge |url=https://www.legalaid.on.ca/faq/conditional-discharge/ |access-date=April 13, 2022 |website=Legal Aid Ontario |language=en-US}}
In May 2022, Vance was expelled from the alumni association of the Royal Military College of Canada over his guilty plea.{{Cite web |last=Connolly |first=Amanda |date=2022-05-11 |title=Gen. Jonathan Vance expelled from Royal Military College alumni group over guilty plea |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/8826388/vance-expelled-royal-military-college-alumni-group-guilty-plea/ |access-date=2022-05-11 |website=Global News |language=en-US}}
Awards and decorations
Vance has received the following orders and decorations during his military career:
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| colspan="3" |100px
| colspan="3" |100px |
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| colspan="3" |100px | colspan="3" |109px |
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- File:Canadian jump wings.png Vance was a qualified Paratrooper and as such wore the Canadian Forces Jump Wings with Red Maple Leaf.
- By virtue of his position, he served as an aide-de-camp to the Governor General of Canada, and as such he wore the gold aiguillette to denote this position.
- 80px At his request, Vance's appointment to the Order of Military Merit in the grade of Commander was terminated effective April 20, 2022 by the Governor General of Canada Mary Simon.{{Cite web|url=https://gazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p1/2022/2022-05-07/html/gh-rg-eng.html|title=Canada Gazette, Part 1, Volume 156, Number 19: GOVERNMENT HOUSE|first=Public Works and Government Services Canada|last=Government of Canada|date=May 7, 2022|website=gazette.gc.ca}} He was appointed as an Officer of the Order in 2010 and upgraded to Commander in 2015.{{cite web |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2022/05/06/canada-soldier-gives-up-military-honor-00030811 |title=Canada's former top soldier gives up prestigious military honor |last=Lum |first=Zi-Ann |date=6 May 2022 |website=Politico |access-date=8 August 2022 }}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category|position=left}}
{{S-start}}
{{S-mil}}
{{Succession box
| title = Chief of the Defence Staff
| before = Tom Lawson
| after = Art McDonald
| years = 2015–2021
}}
|-
{{s-bef| before = Stuart Beare}}
{{s-ttl| title = Commander of the Canadian Joint Operations Command| years = 2014–2015}}
{{s-aft| after = Stephen Bowes}}
{{S-end}}
{{Chief of the Defence Staff (Canada)}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Vance, Jonathan}}
Category:Royal Military College of Canada alumni
Category:Canadian military personnel of the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)
Category:Chiefs of the Defence Staff (Canada)
Category:Recipients of the Meritorious Service Decoration
Category:Commanders of the Legion of Honour
Category:Commanders of the Order of the Star of Romania
Category:People from Hastings County
Category:Royal Canadian Regiment officers