Canadian Forces Chief Warrant Officer Explained

Post:	Canadian Armed Forces Chief Warrant Officer
Insignia:	Insignia of the Canadian Forces chief warrant officer.svg
Insigniacaption:	Insignia worn by the CAF CWO
Incumbent:	Bob McCann, MMM, MSM, CD
Incumbentsince:	March 17, 2023
Department:	Department of National Defence Canadian Armed Forces
Type:	Senior Enlisted Advisor (SEL)
Abbreviation:	CAF CWO
Reports To:	Chief of the Defence Staff
Formation:	July 7, 1978
First:	Robert Osside

The Canadian Armed Forces Chief Warrant Officer (abbreviated CAF CWO) (Adjudant-chef des Forces armées canadiennes in French) is the senior non-commissioned member appointment in the Canadian Armed Forces. The post was created in 1978 with the first appointment of Chief Warrant Officer Robert Osside. CAF CWO is a position created by the Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS) to assist the CDS in their duties and advise them on all issues relating to non-commissioned members (NCM's).^[1] ^[2] CWO Bob McCann, MMM, MSM, CD, is the current CAF CWO since March 17, 2023.

Rank and insignia

The CAF CWO holds the substantive rank of Chief Warrant Officer (if Army or Air Force) or Chief Petty Officer 1st class (if Navy). Even if the incumbent is a Chief Petty Officer, the appointment title remains "Canadian Armed Forces Chief Warrant Officer".

The rank insignia of the CAF CWO is the coat of arms of Canada in coloured thread, surrounded by a wreath of 20 maple leaves in gold thread, worn on the lower sleeve of the service dress jacket. The cap badge is the coat of arms of Canada, in full-colour metallic thread.

List of appointment holders

	Portrait	Name	Term of office			Defence branch
	Portrait	Name	Took office	Left office	Time in office	Defence branch
1		CWO Robert Peter Angelo Osside	July 7, 1978	July 5, 1982		Army
2		CPO1 Fred Gilbert McKee	July 5, 1982	July 13, 1984		Navy
3		CWO Joseph Gilles Jules Turgeon	July 13, 1984	June 26, 1987
4		CWO John Marr	June 26, 1987	July 22, 1991			^[3]
5		CPO1 James D. Carroll	July 22, 1991	July 25, 1995		Navy	^[4]
6		CWO Guy Parent	July 25, 1995	June 15, 1999
7		CWO Joseph Jean Louis Maurice Dessureault	June 15, 1999	June 28, 2001		Army
8		CPO1 Richard Lupien	June 28, 2001	August 20, 2004		Navy
9		CWO Daniel Gilbert	August 20, 2004	July 30, 2007		Air Force
10		CWO Greg Lacroix	July 30, 2007	July 12, 2010		Army
11		CPO1 Robert Cléroux	July 12, 2010	July 5, 2013		Navy	^[5]
12		CWO Kevin West	July 5, 2013	July 5, 2018		Air Force
13		CWO Alain Guimond	July 5, 2018	September 3, 2020		Army	^[6]
14		CPO1 Gilles Gregoire	September 3, 2020	April 14, 2023		Navy	^[7]
15		CWO Bob McCann	April 14, 2023	Incumbent		Army	^[8] ^[9]

Notes

Notes and References

Web site: Table of Ranks and Appointments. Canadian Soldiers.
Web site: The Osside Institute: a source of pride for CWO West. Bélanger, Yves. 12 June 2018. The Maple Leaf. The Institute was renamed in 2014, to honour the memory of the very first Canadian Armed Forces Chief Warrant Officer, CWO Robert Osside..
Web site: Gathering of the CF Chief Warrant Officers . 23 April 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130523005501/http://www.forces.gc.ca/site/tml/article-eng.asp?id=7&y=2012&m=10 . 23 May 2013 . dead . dmy-all .
Web site: Building renamed for exceptional leader. Green, Mary Ellen. 20 October 2008. Lookout Newspaper. Volume 53, No.42, p.7.
News: PR-CO. 5 July 2013. The Wall Street Journal.
Web site: Combat Engineer CWO Alain Guimond appointed Canadian Forces Chief Warrant Officer. Rehman, Mishall. 29 November 2016. Canadian Military Family Magazine.
Web site: CAF welcomes CPO1 Gilles Grégoire: 14th CAF Chief Warrant Officer . Canadian Military Family Magazine . 3 March 2021.
Web site: Message from the Chief of the Defence Staff on the Appointment of Chief Warrant Officer Bob McCann as the 15th Canadian Armed Forces Chief Warrant Officer . Government of Canada. 16 March 2023 . 18 March 2023.
Web site: 2023-04-13 . Canadian Armed Forces Chief Warrant Officer Change of Appointment . 2023-04-14 . www.canada.ca.