André Deschamps (RCAF officer) explained

Joseph Paul André Deschamps
Rank:	Lieutenant General
Branch:	Royal Canadian Air Force
Allegiance:	Canada
Serviceyears:	1977-2012
Commands:	8 Wing Trenton Royal Canadian Air Force
Awards:	Commander of the Order of Military Merit Canadian Forces' Decoration

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.

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]

Honours

Ribbon	Description	Notes
	Order of Military Merit (CMM)	Commander 26 February 2010 ^[4]
		With Clasp
		With South-West Asia Ribbon With "ISAF+FIAS" Clasp
		With "NATO-OTAN" Clasp
		Canadian Version of this Medal 2012 ^[5]
		With "FORMER YUGOSLAVIA" Clasp
		With "KOSOVO" Clasp
	Canadian Forces' Decoration (CD)	With 2 Clasps

• He was a qualified RCAF Pilot and as such wore the Royal Air Canadian Forces Pilot Wings.

^[6]

References

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Notes and References

1. http://www.vintagewings.ca/VintageNews/Stories/tabid/116/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/123/language/en-CA/Keep-Calm-and-Carry-On--Angus-Watt-retires-as-CAS.aspx Keep Calm and Carry On
2. http://www.casr.ca/doc-dnd-appointments-2009.htm Minister of National Defence announces senior promotions and appointments
3. http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2011/08/15/canadian-navy-air-force-royal-name-change_n_927257.html Canadian Navy, Air Force 'Royal' Again With Official Name Change
4. Web site: André Deschamps Order of Military Merit Citation . Governor General of Canada . 28 June 2022 . en.
5. Web site: André Deschamps Diamond Jubilee Medal Citation . Governor General of Canada . 28 June 2022 . en.
6. Web site: Lieutenant-General Joseph Paul André Deschamps, CMM, CD Commander – Royal Canadian Air Force 2011 to 2012 Chief of the Air Staff 2009 to 2011 . Blatherwick . 28 June 2022 . en.