Jocelyn (Joe) Paul

Early Life and Education

Paul spent his childhood and early adult life in the First Nation community of Wendake, Quebec. His family has Wolastoqiyik (Maliseet) roots and were involved in traditional activities such as guiding and making snowshoes and canoes. He obtained his early education at the local Indian day school. (See also Residential Schools in Canada.) After high school, he attended CEGEP and he went on to obtain a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from the Université du Québec in Chicoutimi in 1988, followed by a Master of Arts degree in anthropology from the Université de Montréal in 1991.

Military Career

In 1988, Paul joined the militia (now the Army Reserve) as an infantry officer. He served with both the Le Régiment du Saguenay in Jonquière, Quebec and Le Régiment de Maisonneuve in Montreal. In 1991, Paul transferred to the Regular Force and joined 3rd Battalion Royal 22e Régiment (R22eR) at CFB Valcartier, Quebec as a lieutenant. In 1993, he deployed to Croatia on Operation HARMONY as part of the United Nations Protection Force (UNPROFOR). (See also Canadian Peacekeepers in the Balkans.) Promoted to captain in January 1994, Paul was aide-de-camp to Governor General Roméo LeBlanc from 1995–97. He then returned to the 1st Battalion R22eR, where he served in various senior captain positions.

In April 2000, Paul was promoted to major and served as a company commander and deputy commander with the 1st Battalion R22eR from 2001–03. After his second regimental tour, he attended the United States Marine Corps (USMC) Command and Staff College in Quantico, Virginia, followed by the USMC School of Advanced Warfighting from 2003–05, also in Quantico.

In June 2005, Paul was promoted to lieutenant colonel and was employed in the operations cell at army headquarters. In 2008, he assumed command of 2nd Battalion R22eR and of the Citadel in Quebec City. While commanding officer, Paul commanded the 2nd Battalion R22eR Battle Group (known as Task Force 1-09), in Kandahar province, Afghanistan. The battle group was deployed from February to August 2009 during Operation ATHENA, the Canadian Armed Forces’ contribution to the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan. (See also Canada and the War in Afghanistan.)

In June 2010, Paul was promoted to colonel and commanded the Counter-Improvised Explosive Device Task Force on the army staff. He then attended the National Security Programme at the Canadian Forces College in Toronto, followed by command of the Canadian Manoeuvre Training Centre at Wainwright, Alberta.

In December 2013, Paul was promoted to acting brigadier-general and deployed to Israel to assume command of Task Force Jerusalem on Operation PROTEUS. He was confirmed in his rank in February 2014. Paul returned to Canada in July 2015 and was seconded as the Senior Military Advisor to the Privy Council Office for two years. In March 2017, he became chief of staff of the Canadian Forces Intelligence Command. In June 2018, he was appointed as commander of the Canadian Army’s largest formation, 4th Canadian Division and Joint Task Force Central, with headquarters in Toronto.

Promoted Major-General in 2019, he was appointed as Director General International Security Policy at National Defence Headquarters. Two years later, in March 2021, he was promoted to lieutenant-general and was appointed as Deputy Commander Allied Joint Forces Command in Naples, Italy. On 16 June 2022, Paul was appointed as the 51st commander of the Canadian Army.

He is the first Indigenous officer to command the Canadian Army. As Commander of the Canadian Army, Paul also became the Defence Team Champion for Indigenous Peoples, the first Indigenous officer to hold this position.

Lieutenant-General Paul relinquished command of the Canadian Army on 12 July 2024 prior to his retirement from the Canadian Armed Forces.

Honours & Awards

• UNPROFOR Medal (1993)
• Canadian Forces Decoration (2000) with two clasps (2015, 2022)
• Canadian Forces Peacekeeping Medal (2001)
• General Campaign Star - South West Asia (2009)
• Meritorious Service Cross (2011)
• National Aboriginal Veteran Association/Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada, Aboriginal Veterans Millennium Medal (2011)
• Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal (2012)
• Operational Service Medal - Expedition (2015)
• Commander of the Order of Military Merit (2019)
• United States Legion of Merit (2019)
• Lieutenant-Governor of Québec First Peoples Medal (2019)
• Special Service Medal (2022)