2014 Guest Speaker
Major-General P.F. Wynnyk, CMM, MSM, CD
Commander Canadian Forces Intelligence Command and Chief of Defence Intelligence
In 1981, after four years as an Army Cadet, Major-General Paul Wynnykjoined the 20th Field Regiment, RCA (Militia) in the rank of Gunner prior to his acceptance under the Regular Officer Training Plan. Studying at both Royal Roads Military College and the Royal Military College of Canada, he was commissioned into the Canadian Military Engineers in 1986.
The majority of the next 13 years was spent on regimental duty in Europe and in Canada. Major-General Wynnyk's command appointments include 1 Combat Engineer Regiment in Edmonton, AB from 1997 to 1999, 1 Area Support Group from 2004 to 2006, and Land Force Western Area/Joint Task Force West (now 3rd Canadian Division) from 2010 to 2012. During the latter appointment, he commanded Operations LUSTRE and LYRE, the Canadian Forces responses to the 2011 floods in Manitoba.
Major-General Wynnyk has held a variety of staff assignments. He has served as both the G3 and Chief of Staff of Land Force Western Area, and has undertaken a number of positions at National Defence Headquarters including the J3 Operations desk officer responsible for Canada's military commitment to the Former Yugoslavia, Director General Military Engineering/Chief Military Engineer, and a posting to the Privy Council Office where he was employed as the Senior Defence Advisor and Director of Operations for the Foreign and Defence Policy Advisor to the Prime Minister. Most recently, he was the Deputy Commander of the Canadian Army.
Major-General Wynnyk's overseas assignments include, in addition to four years of service in Germany, tours with the UN Advance Mission in Cambodia (UNAMIC), the UN Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC), and an assignment as the Canadian Task Force Commander and mission Chief of Operations of the Mission de l'Organisation des Nations Unies en Republique Dernocratique du Congo (MONUC). In March 2009, he was posted to the Combined Security Transition Command - Afghanistan as the Assistant Commanding General responsible for overseeing the development of the Afghan Ministry of Defense and the Afghan National Army.
Major-General Wynnyk is a graduate of the Canadian Forces Command and Staff Course, the Advanced Military Studies Course, and the National Security Studies Programme. In addition, he holds a baccalaureate in civil engineering, masters degrees in war studies and business administration (international business), and is a registered professional engineer in the province of Alberta. A Commander of the Order of Military Merit and an Officer of the US Legion of Merit, Major-General Wynnyk is also a qualified military parachutist in several countries and a graduate of the French Commando Course. His decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal and the Afghan Baryal Medal (First Class).
Major-General Wynnyk was appointed Commander of the Canadian Forces Intelligence Command and Chief of Defence Intelligence in July of 2014.