André Deschamps (RCAF officer)

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.

Joseph Paul André Deschamps
Allegiance	Canada
Service/branch	Royal Canadian Air Force
Years of service	1977-2012
Rank	Lieutenant-General
Commands held	8 Wing Trenton Royal Canadian Air Force
Battles/wars	War in Afghanistan
Awards	Commander of the Order of Military Merit Canadian Forces Decoration

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]

References

1. Keep Calm and Carry On
2. Minister of National Defence announces senior promotions and appointments Archived May 24, 2010, at the Wayback Machine Canadian American Strategic Review, 26 January 2009
3. Canadian Navy, Air Force 'Royal' Again With Official Name Change Huffington Post, 15 August 2011