Larry Murray
Encyclopedia
Vice Admiral
Larry E. Murray, CMM
, CD
(born 6 June 1947) is a Canadian
retired civil servant, retired Vice Admiral
and former acting Chief of the Defence Staff
.
, Murray served as Captain of various ships including the minesweepers
HMCS Chaleur and HMCS Miramichi and the destroyer
HMCS Iroquois
. He was appointed Commander
of the First Canadian Destroyer Squadron in 1987 and Director-General of Maritime Doctrine & Operations at the National Defence Headquarters in 1989. He went on to be Assistant Deputy Minister (Policy & Communications) in 1991 and Deputy Chief of Defence Staff in 1993.
He became Commander Maritime Command
, Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1994. He was Acting Chief of Defence Staff
from October 8, 1996 until September 17, 1997.
and in 1999 was appointed Deputy Minister of Veterans Affairs Canada
. He was subsequently appointed Deputy Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Canada and served in that role from 2003 until his retirement from the public sector in 2007.
Murray was a member of the Task Force on Governance and Cultural Change in the RCMP, a Trudeau Foundation Mentor and currently serves as President of the Nova Scotia Mainland Division of the Navy League of Canada. He is also a member of the National Defence Audit Committee and chair of the Privy Council Audit Committee. In June 2010, Vice-Admiral (retired) Murray took over the honorary position of Grand President of The Royal Canadian Legion. He is the first naval officer to hold the position since the Legion's formation in 1926.
and was promoted to the grade of Commander of Military Merit in 1994. In 1998, he was a recipient of the Vimy Award
, which recognizes a Canadian who has made a significant and outstanding contribution to the defence and security of our nation and the preservation of our democratic values. Murray served in the honorary position of Colonel Commandant of the Chaplain Branch of the CF for five years and was invested in the Order of St. John in 2001. He was awarded the Minister of Veterans Affairs Commendation for his contribution to the care and well-being of veterans and to the remembrance of their service and sacrifice.
Vice Admiral
Vice admiral is a senior naval rank of a three-star flag officer, which is equivalent to lieutenant general in the other uniformed services. A vice admiral is typically senior to a rear admiral and junior to an admiral...
Larry E. Murray, CMM
Order of Military Merit (Canada)
The Order of Military Merit is a military honour for merit that is, within the Canadian system of honours, the second highest order administered by the Governor General-in-Council, on behalf of the Queen of Canada...
, CD
Canadian Forces Decoration
The Canadian Forces Decoration is a Canadian award bestowed upon members of the Canadian Forces who have completed twelve years of military service, with certain conditions. By convention, it is also given to the Governor General of Canada upon his or her appointment as viceroy, which includes the...
(born 6 June 1947) is a Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
retired civil servant, retired Vice Admiral
Vice Admiral
Vice admiral is a senior naval rank of a three-star flag officer, which is equivalent to lieutenant general in the other uniformed services. A vice admiral is typically senior to a rear admiral and junior to an admiral...
and former acting Chief of the Defence Staff
Chief of the Defence Staff (Canada)
The Chief of the Defence Staff is the second most senior member of the Canadian Forces, and heads the Armed Forces Council, having primary responsibility for command, control, and administration of the forces, as well as military strategy, plans, and requirements...
.
Military career
Born in Stratford, OntarioStratford, Ontario
Stratford is a city on the Avon River in Perth County in southwestern Ontario, Canada with a population of 32,000.When the area was first settled by Europeans in 1832, the townsite and the river were named after Stratford-upon-Avon, England. It is the seat of Perth County. Stratford was...
, Murray served as Captain of various ships including the minesweepers
Minesweeper (ship)
A minesweeper is a small naval warship designed to counter the threat posed by naval mines. Minesweepers generally detect then neutralize mines in advance of other naval operations.-History:...
HMCS Chaleur and HMCS Miramichi and the destroyer
Destroyer
In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against smaller, powerful, short-range attackers. Destroyers, originally called torpedo-boat destroyers in 1892, evolved from...
HMCS Iroquois
HMCS Iroquois (DDH 280)
HMCS Iroquois is an that has served the Canadian Forces since 1972.Iroquois is the lead ship of her class which is sometimes referred to as the Tribal-class or simply as the 280-class. She is the second vessel to use the designation...
. He was appointed Commander
Commander
Commander is a naval rank which is also sometimes used as a military title depending on the individual customs of a given military service. Commander is also used as a rank or title in some organizations outside of the armed forces, particularly in police and law enforcement.-Commander as a naval...
of the First Canadian Destroyer Squadron in 1987 and Director-General of Maritime Doctrine & Operations at the National Defence Headquarters in 1989. He went on to be Assistant Deputy Minister (Policy & Communications) in 1991 and Deputy Chief of Defence Staff in 1993.
He became Commander Maritime Command
Commander Royal Canadian Navy
The Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy is the commander and institutional head of the Royal Canadian Navy. The Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy is based at National Defence Headquarters in Ottawa, Ontario.-History of the post:...
, Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1994. He was Acting Chief of Defence Staff
Chief of the Defence Staff (Canada)
The Chief of the Defence Staff is the second most senior member of the Canadian Forces, and heads the Armed Forces Council, having primary responsibility for command, control, and administration of the forces, as well as military strategy, plans, and requirements...
from October 8, 1996 until September 17, 1997.
Later career
In 1997, Murray was appointed Associate Deputy Minister of Fisheries and Oceans CanadaFisheries and Oceans Canada
Fisheries and Oceans Canada, frequently referred to as DFO , is the department within the government of Canada that is responsible for developing and implementing policies and programs in support of Canada's economic, ecological and scientific interests in oceans and inland waters...
and in 1999 was appointed Deputy Minister of Veterans Affairs Canada
Veterans Affairs Canada
The Department of Veterans Affairs , also referred to as Veterans Affairs Canada , is the department within the government of Canada with responsibility for pensions/benefits and services for war veterans, retired personnel of the Canadian Forces and Royal Canadian Mounted Police, their families,...
. He was subsequently appointed Deputy Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Canada and served in that role from 2003 until his retirement from the public sector in 2007.
Murray was a member of the Task Force on Governance and Cultural Change in the RCMP, a Trudeau Foundation Mentor and currently serves as President of the Nova Scotia Mainland Division of the Navy League of Canada. He is also a member of the National Defence Audit Committee and chair of the Privy Council Audit Committee. In June 2010, Vice-Admiral (retired) Murray took over the honorary position of Grand President of The Royal Canadian Legion. He is the first naval officer to hold the position since the Legion's formation in 1926.
Honours
In 1983, Murray was made an Officer of the Order of Military MeritOrder of Military Merit (Canada)
The Order of Military Merit is a military honour for merit that is, within the Canadian system of honours, the second highest order administered by the Governor General-in-Council, on behalf of the Queen of Canada...
and was promoted to the grade of Commander of Military Merit in 1994. In 1998, he was a recipient of the Vimy Award
Vimy Award
The Vimy Award is an award presented by the Conference of Defence Associations Institute to the “Canadian who has made a significant and outstanding contribution to the defence and security of and the preservation of democratic values". The award has been presented annually since 1991...
, which recognizes a Canadian who has made a significant and outstanding contribution to the defence and security of our nation and the preservation of our democratic values. Murray served in the honorary position of Colonel Commandant of the Chaplain Branch of the CF for five years and was invested in the Order of St. John in 2001. He was awarded the Minister of Veterans Affairs Commendation for his contribution to the care and well-being of veterans and to the remembrance of their service and sacrifice.