Jennie Carignan – A woman of many military accomplishments

Published on

September 18, 2026

A woman of passion and perseverance, Jennie Carignan is a major figure in the Canadian Armed Forces. She has served in the military for over 40 years and was the first woman in the Canadian Armed Forces to lead a combat unit. Today, she holds the title of Chief of the Defence Staff, making her the first woman to obtain that rank in Canadian military history.

Born in 1968 to a working-class family in Asbestos (now called Val-des-Sources) in the Eastern Townships in Quebec, Jennie Carignan most likely never imagined she would become one of the most accomplished service members of the Canadian Armed Forces. At a very young age, she dreamed of becoming a dancer, and her greatest wish was to be a ballerina! The art of dance and the art of military action are not so different, as both fields require a sense of discipline, order, and perseverance. Jennie Carignan had all of these qualities to succeed as a soldier.

Her early years

After graduating from high school in 1986, she felt a calling for a deeper challenge, which is what led her to pursue a career in the military. As she likes to say in interviews, she was looking for “something bigger than herself.” Encouraged by her family, she went to study at the Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston, Ontario at age 17.

Carignan was one of the rare women to enlist in the Canadian Armed Forces at that time. Although women were technically eligible to join the army, they were barred from many combat roles until 1989. That did not stop this new recruit from enlisting as a combat engineer—a role that involved deactivating mines at the front lines! Although determined, Carignan found her training difficult.

Source: Canadian Military Family Magazine.

“The principle of obedience to order is extremely important in the military, but it cannot be blind obedience… It has to be a reflection of what is right and what is wrong. You cannot execute orders that you believe to be wrong.” Jennie Carignan, Forbes Magazine, February 5, 2021.

She has applied this philosophy throughout her career. After completing her college training, Carignan received her first commission in 1990 while at the Chilliwack base. In an interview with Maclean’s magazine, she said that she confronted an officer who was terrorizing the recruits. After a number of incidents of sexism, Carignan immediately fired him without consulting her superiors. She let go of other people for similar reasons throughout her career. After all, a finely tuned army is one that respects the personal integrity of its members.

Since that first assignment, her track record has only grown more impressive. And it’s likely that, at the time, she had no idea how far this path would take her!

International missions

Since the Second World War, Canada has joined many peacekeeping missions as a member of the United Nations and a signatory to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Jennie Carignan’s path has followed the same trajectory as, throughout her career, she has taken part in many international missions.

Carignan’s first overseas mission was to the Golan Heights in 1993. Peacekeepers had been in the region since 1974 to ease tensions between Syria and Israel by maintaining a buffer zone between the two countries. Canadians deployed to this area provided logistical support to other nations participating in the mission. As a lieutenant who had served for two years by that time, Carignan mainly commanded the construction engineers during her time there from June to December 1993.

Canadian Armed Forces personnel conduct a drill in the Golan Heights in 2002 (source: Department of National Defence).

When she returned, Officer Carignan resumed her duties at different bases across the country… while also juggling family responsibilities and her education. Before her next overseas assignment, this soldier not only became a mother but also went back to school to earn multiple degrees! It is thus worth noting that she has a master of business administration from Université Laval, a degree in fuels and materials engineering from the Royal Military College of Canada, and to top it all off, a master of military art and science from the United States Army Command and General Staff College and the School of Advanced Military Studies.

Balancing school and family life is not easy, and imagine adding a military career to the mix! In 1995, she was supposed to join the UN peacekeepers in the Bosnia and Herzegovina conflict, but her pregnancy kept her from going. However, she had another opportunity to serve in this region in 2002, when she was sent there to deactivate mines left over from the 1992 to 1995 conflict.

Col. Jennie Carignan at the Canadian Forces College in Toronto (source: Finn O’Hara/McLean’s).

Until she began her current position, Carignan had long been involved in Canadian missions to the Middle East. For example, she added a first mission to Afghanistan, from 2009 to 2010, to her list of achievements. In 2019, she led a team of about 600 troops, including 250 Canadians, in Iraq. This was not a combat mission but rather a support mission to reinforce Iraqi forces to help them fend off a return of the Islamic State militant group.

A long career in Canada

Of course, Carignan was particularly active in various domestic matters. When she was not on a mission abroad, she was assigned to a number of important posts. In 2013, she became the commandant of the Royal Military College Saint-Jean, the school that she herself had attended! She and some colleagues led training on sexual misconduct and the inclusion of women in the army, and this training even took her as far as Australia.

The inclusion and respect of women in the armed forces form the backbone of her professional approach. In fact, Carignan never gave up her principles, even in the face of adversity. In 2021, when she was promoted to Lieutenant General, she was also appointed as Chief of Professional Conduct and Culture and tasked with preventing sexual misconduct in the Armed Forces.

“Conflict resolution is a multi-dimensional, complex affair and hence requires a multi-disciplinary approach with the contribution of a diverse team. In my experience, a diverse team is more tolerant, more empathic, more curious and, consequently, more creative.” Jennie Carignan on gender integration in military operations, in November 2020.

Source: NATO.

A bright future

Jennie Carignan is known for her trust-based leadership, which makes her highly respected. Carignan’s years of effort were rewarded on June 28, 2024, when it was announced that she would succeed General Wayne Eyre as Chief of the Defence Staff—the most senior position in the Canadian Armed Forces. Given the current global climate, it goes without saying that General Carignan still faces many challenges.

She is an amazing example of a woman who has achieved her goals and stood out in an environment in which nothing is handed to you. She is truly inspiring!

Jennie Carignan at Canada Company’s CAF Speaker Series!

On September 18, 2025, Canada Company was pleased to welcome General Jennie Carignan to Toronto for its CAF Speaker Series. She spoke about the challenges of defending Canada in the current global context and stressed the importance of people, preparation, and objectives. Check out the photos from the event here!

Article written by Emilie Bernier, and updated by Julien Lehoux, for Je Me Souviens. Translation by Amy Butcher (www.traductionsamyb.ca). Originally published on March 18, 2021, this article was updated and republished on April 2, 2026.