Ray Henault
Encyclopedia
General
Raymond (Ray) Roland Joseph Henault, CMM
, MSC
, CD
(born Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
on April 26, 1949) is a retired Canadian Air Force
officer. He was the Chief of the Defence Staff of Canada
from June 28, 2001. On November 7, 2004, Henault was voted to become the next chairman of NATO's military committee, a position he held until 2008, when he finally retired.
in 1968. On completion of pilot
training
at CFB Borden
, Ontario
, and CFB Gimli
, Manitoba
, General Henault was transferred to CFB Bagotville
, Québec
, where he served as a CF-101 Voodoo
pilot with 425 Squadron. In 1972, he became a flight instructor
on the Musketeer
at CFB Portage la Prairie. In 1974, he served a second tour at CFB Bagotville, this time as an air traffic controller
.
In 1976, Henault was posted to 408 Squadron at CFB Edmonton
, Alberta
to fly the CH-135 Twin Huey helicopter. In 1980 he moved to CFB Valcartier
, Québec, as Staff Officer (Aviation) in 5 Canadian Brigade Group Headquarters. In 1981, he was promoted to the rank of Major
and transferred to 430e Escadron at CFB Valcartier, where he served as the Twin Huey Flight Commander.
In January 1985, he came to National Defence Headquarters in Ottawa
to assume responsibility for Doctrine and International Programs in the Directorate of Land Aviation. He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel in June 1985, and appointed Project Director for the Canadian Forces Light Helicopter Project at NDHQ.
In June 1987, Henault was appointed the Commanding Officer of 444(CA) Tactical Helicopter Squadron at CFB Lahr
, Germany
. In June 1989, he was transferred to Air Command Headquarters in Winnipeg as Senior Staff Officer Requirements. He was promoted to the rank of Colonel
in July 1990, and appointed Base Commander of CFB Portage la Prairie, Manitoba. In July 1992, he was appointed the Deputy Commander
of 10 Tactical Air Group at CFB Montreal
. In August 1993, he was posted to the National Defence College in Kingston, Ontario
to attend Course No. 47.
He was promoted to the rank of Brigadier-General in May 1994, and assumed command of 10 Tactical Air Group headquartered in Montreal
, Quebec. In July 1995, he was posted to Air Command Headquarters and appointed Chief of Staff Operations.
From June to December 1996, General Henault served as Chief of Staff J3/Director-General Military Plans and Operations at National Defence Headquarters in Ottawa. From January to October 1997, Henault was appointed Acting
Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff
. He was promoted to the rank of Major-General on 1 April 1997.
From September 1997 to September 1998, Henault served as Assistant Chief of the Air Staff. On 15 August 1998 he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-General and served as Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff from September 1998 to June 2001. Henault was promoted to his present rank and appointed Chief of the Defence Staff on 28 June 2001.
He is a graduate of the École supérieure de guerre in Paris, France and of the National Defence College in Kingston. He holds a Bachelor of Arts
and honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the University of Manitoba
. He is an honorary member of the Royal Military College of Canada
(# S146).
He holds the rank of Commander of the Order of Military Merit
(CMM), The Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem (Serving Member), and Commander of the French Legion of Honour.
Henault was elected to the position of Chairman of the NATO Military Committee in November 2004 and assumed that position at NATO headquarters
in Brussels, Belgium in June 2005. He held that position until 2008, when he finally retired from the military and returned to Canada.
General
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
Raymond (Ray) Roland Joseph Henault, 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...
, MSC
Meritorious Service Cross
The Meritorious Service Cross is a decoration that is, within the Canadian system of honours, one of the two Meritorious Service Decorations gifted by the Canadian monarch, generally through his or her viceroy-in-Council...
, 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 Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
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...
on April 26, 1949) is a retired Canadian Air Force
Canadian Forces Air Command
The Royal Canadian Air Force , formerly Canadian Forces Air Command, is one of three environmental commands of the Canadian Forces...
officer. He was the Chief of the Defence Staff of Canada
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...
from June 28, 2001. On November 7, 2004, Henault was voted to become the next chairman of NATO's military committee, a position he held until 2008, when he finally retired.
Military career
Henault enrolled in the Canadian ForcesCanadian Forces
The Canadian Forces , officially the Canadian Armed Forces , are the unified armed forces of Canada, as constituted by the National Defence Act, which states: "The Canadian Forces are the armed forces of Her Majesty raised by Canada and consist of one Service called the Canadian Armed Forces."...
in 1968. On completion of pilot
Aviator
An aviator is a person who flies an aircraft. The first recorded use of the term was in 1887, as a variation of 'aviation', from the Latin avis , coined in 1863 by G. de la Landelle in Aviation Ou Navigation Aérienne...
training
Training
The term training refers to the acquisition of knowledge, skills, and competencies as a result of the teaching of vocational or practical skills and knowledge that relate to specific useful competencies. It forms the core of apprenticeships and provides the backbone of content at institutes of...
at CFB Borden
CFB Borden
Canadian Forces Base Borden is a Canadian Forces base located in Ontario.The historic birthplace of the Royal Canadian Air Force, CFB Borden is the largest training facility in the Canadian Forces...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, and CFB Gimli
RCAF Station Gimli
RCAF Station Gimli was an air station of the Royal Canadian Air Force located near Gimli, Manitoba, Canada.On September 6, 1943, the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan established No. 18 Service Flying Training School to train aircrew for Second World War operations using the Avro Anson. No...
, Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
, General Henault was transferred to CFB Bagotville
CFB Bagotville
Canadian Forces Base Bagotville , commonly referred to as CFB Bagotville, is a Canadian Forces Base located west of Bagotville in the city of Saguenay, Quebec. It is operated as an air force base by the Royal Canadian Air Force and is one of two bases in the country using the CF-18 Hornet...
, Québec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
, where he served as a CF-101 Voodoo
CF-101 Voodoo
The CF-101 Voodoo was an all-weather interceptor aircraft operated by the Royal Canadian Air Force and Canadian Forces between 1961 and 1984. They were manufactured by the McDonnell Aircraft Corporation of St. Louis, Missouri for the United States Air Force , and later sold to Canada...
pilot with 425 Squadron. In 1972, he became a flight instructor
Flight instructor
A flight instructor is a person who teaches others to fly aircraft. Specific privileges granted to holders of a flight instructor qualification vary from country to country, but very generally, a flight instructor serves to enhance or evaluate the knowledge and skill level of an aviator in pursuit...
on the Musketeer
Beechcraft Musketeer
The Beechcraft Musketeer is a family of single-engine, low-wing, light aircraft that was produced by Beechcraft. The line includes the Model 19 Musketeer Sport, the Model 23 Musketeer, Custom and Sundowner, the Model 23-24 Musketeer Super III the retractable gear Model 24-R Sierra and the military...
at CFB Portage la Prairie. In 1974, he served a second tour at CFB Bagotville, this time as an air traffic controller
Air traffic controller
Air traffic controllers are the people who expedite and maintain a safe and orderly flow of air traffic in the global air traffic control system. The position of the air traffic controller is one that requires highly specialized skills...
.
In 1976, Henault was posted to 408 Squadron at CFB Edmonton
CFB Edmonton
CFB Edmonton is a Canadian Forces base located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. It is also known as Edmonton Garrison or "Steele Barracks".-History:...
, Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
to fly the CH-135 Twin Huey helicopter. In 1980 he moved to CFB Valcartier
CFB Valcartier
Canadian Forces Base Valcartier is a Canadian Forces Base located in the municipality of Saint-Gabriel-de-Valcartier, approximately north of Quebec City...
, Québec, as Staff Officer (Aviation) in 5 Canadian Brigade Group Headquarters. In 1981, he was promoted to the rank of Major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
and transferred to 430e Escadron at CFB Valcartier, where he served as the Twin Huey Flight Commander.
In January 1985, he came to National Defence Headquarters in Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
to assume responsibility for Doctrine and International Programs in the Directorate of Land Aviation. He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel in June 1985, and appointed Project Director for the Canadian Forces Light Helicopter Project at NDHQ.
In June 1987, Henault was appointed the Commanding Officer of 444(CA) Tactical Helicopter Squadron at CFB Lahr
CFB Lahr
Black Forest Airport is a privately owned and operated commercial airport located in Lahr, Germany. Formerly known as Canadian Forces Base Lahr, or CFB Lahr, the Canadian Forces Base was operated primarily as an air force base, and later as an army base, during the late 1960s. The military base...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. In June 1989, he was transferred to Air Command Headquarters in Winnipeg as Senior Staff Officer Requirements. He was promoted to the rank of Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
in July 1990, and appointed Base Commander of CFB Portage la Prairie, Manitoba. In July 1992, he was appointed the Deputy Commander
Deputy Commander
Deputy commander was a rank in the London Metropolitan Police which existed between 1946 and 1968.In 1946, the rank of chief constable, which was between superintendent and deputy assistant commissioner, was renamed deputy commander. At the same time, the rank of deputy assistant commissioner was...
of 10 Tactical Air Group at CFB Montreal
CFB Montreal
Canadian Forces Base Montreal is a Canadian Forces Base network located in Montreal, Quebec.The base is home to:* Land Forces Quebec Area* 34e Groupe-Brigade du Canada which includes:...
. In August 1993, he was posted to the National Defence College in Kingston, Ontario
Kingston, Ontario
Kingston, Ontario is a Canadian city located in Eastern Ontario where the St. Lawrence River flows out of Lake Ontario. Originally a First Nations settlement called "Katarowki," , growing European exploration in the 17th Century made it an important trading post...
to attend Course No. 47.
He was promoted to the rank of Brigadier-General in May 1994, and assumed command of 10 Tactical Air Group headquartered in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, Quebec. In July 1995, he was posted to Air Command Headquarters and appointed Chief of Staff Operations.
From June to December 1996, General Henault served as Chief of Staff J3/Director-General Military Plans and Operations at National Defence Headquarters in Ottawa. From January to October 1997, Henault was appointed Acting
Acting
Acting is the work of an actor or actress, which is a person in theatre, television, film, or any other storytelling medium who tells the story by portraying a character and, usually, speaking or singing the written text or play....
Deputy 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...
. He was promoted to the rank of Major-General on 1 April 1997.
From September 1997 to September 1998, Henault served as Assistant Chief of the Air Staff. On 15 August 1998 he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-General and served as Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff from September 1998 to June 2001. Henault was promoted to his present rank and appointed Chief of the Defence Staff on 28 June 2001.
He is a graduate of the École supérieure de guerre in Paris, France and of the National Defence College in Kingston. He holds a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
and honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the University of Manitoba
University of Manitoba
The University of Manitoba , in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, is the largest university in the province of Manitoba. It is Manitoba's most comprehensive and only research-intensive post-secondary educational institution. It was founded in 1877, making it Western Canada’s first university. It placed...
. He is an honorary member of the Royal Military College of Canada
Royal Military College of Canada
The Royal Military College of Canada, RMC, or RMCC , is the military academy of the Canadian Forces, and is a degree-granting university. RMC was established in 1876. RMC is the only federal institution in Canada with degree granting powers...
(# S146).
He holds the rank of Commander of the Order of Military Merit
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...
(CMM), The Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem (Serving Member), and Commander of the French Legion of Honour.
Henault was elected to the position of Chairman of the NATO Military Committee in November 2004 and assumed that position at NATO headquarters
NATO headquarters
NATO headquarters may refer to:* NATO, or North Atlantic Treaty Organization headquarters in Brussels, Belgium* Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe in Mons, Belgium, the central command of NATO military forces...
in Brussels, Belgium in June 2005. He held that position until 2008, when he finally retired from the military and returned to Canada.