General Rick Hillier

General(Ret.) Rick Hillier, CMM, MSC, CD (born 1955), is the former Chief of the Defence Staff of the Canadian Forces. He held this appointment from February 4, 2005, to July 1, 2008. He retired on July 1, 2008. He is also the highest-ranking Newfoundland and Labrador officer in history. He was posted to his first regiment, the 8th Canadian Hussars (Princess Louise’s) in Petawawa, Ontario, and subsequently to the Royal Canadian Dragoons in Lahr, Germany. He has also served as a staff officer at Force Mobile Command Headquarters at CFB St. Hubert in Montreal, and at National Defence Headquarters in Ottawa. He was named Chief of the Land Staff, commanding the Canadian Army, on May 30, 2003. He is noted for his public calls for increased resources for the Canadian Forces. After serving as Chief of the Land Staff and before being appointed Chief of the Defence Staff, he commanded the NATO ISAF in Afghanistan from February 9 to August 12, 2004. On February 4, 2005, General Hillier became Chief of the Defence Staff. On April 15, 2008, Hillier announced he would step down as CDS on July 1, 2008.