• The Minister of National Defence carries legal responsibility and is accountable to Parliament for the administration of the National Defence Act, the Emergencies Act, the Emergency Preparedness Act, the Visiting Forces Act, the Aeronautics Act (in relation to Defence), the Canadian Forces Superannuation Act, the Garnishment Attachment and Pension Diversion Act, and the Pension Benefit Division Act. 

Ombudsman         

• The Ombudsman acts as a direct source of information, referral and education to assist individuals to access existing channels of assistance and redress within DND/CF. In the exercise of his/her mandate he/she is independent from the chain of command and Departmental management and reports directly to and is accountable to the Minister of National Defence. The Ombudsman’s office will serve to contribute to substantial and long-lasting improvements to the welfare of members of the DND/CF community. Where a complaint is made about the treatment of complaints by existing mechanisms, including a redress of grievance, the Ombudsman will review the process to ensure that individuals are treated in a fair and equitable fashion.

Judge Advocate General      

• The JAG is the senior legal advisor to the Minister, the Department and the Canadian Forces on matters of military justice and to the Government of Canada on military law. The JAG also provides oversight and supervision to the administration of the military justice system.

Deputy Minister of National Defence      

• The Deputy Minister has primary responsibility for policy, resources and international defence relations.

Chief of Defence Staff     

• The Chief of the Defence Staff has primary responsibility for command, control and administration of the Canadian Forces and military strategy, plans and requirements.

CDS/DM Situation Reports
NDHQ Action Directives

Chief Review Services      

• The Chief Review Services assists senior level DND and CF managers and leaders in meeting their mandates by providing expertise and advice on management practices, carrying out program evaluations and conducting independent audits, including investigations of suspected misuse of resources.

Director General Public Affairs      

• The Director General Public Affairs is responsible for the management of all aspects of defence-related public affairs.

DND/CF Public Affairs Contacts

DND/CF Legal Advisor      

• The DND and CF Legal Advisor provides legal advice to the Department and Forces on matters other than military law and the military justice system.

Chief of Maritime Staff      

• The CMS is responsible for: exercising command of Maritime Command in accordance with the Canadian Forces Organizational Orders and as directed by the CDS.

Chief of the Land Staff      

• The CLS is responsible for: exercising command of Land Force Command in accordance with the Canadian Forces Organizational Orders and as directed by the CDS

Chief of the Air Staff      

• The CAS is responsible for: exercising command of Air Command in accordance with the Canadian Forces Organizational Orders and as directed by the CDS.

Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff      

• The Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff (DCDS) provides operational direction to Canadian Forces in the field in non­routine and contingency operations and is the focus for integrated military planning and operations at NDHQ.

Organization
Mission Statement
Forces in Action
Peacekeeping & Humanitarian Operations Cost Estimates

 

Vice Chief of the Defence Staff      

• The Vice Chief of Defence Staff has three distinct roles within the NDHQ structure

Chief Information Officer      

Assistant Deputy Minister (Policy)       

• The Assistant Deputy Minister (Policy) is the principal source of defence policy advice and is responsible for: the analytical basis and policy options, as well as advice on and support in the formulation and execution of defence policy.

Assistant Deputy Minister (Human Resources — Military)      

• The Assistant Deputy Minister (Human Resources - Military) is responsible for personnel in the Canadian Forces. The Assistant Deputy Minister (Human Resources - Military) is thus responsible for: developing military resource policies that support Government objectives and DND and CF missions

Assistant Deputy Minister (Human Resources — Civilian)     

• The Assistant Deputy Minister (Human Resources - Civilian) is responsible for personnel in the Department. The Assistant Deputy Minister (Human Resources - Civilian) is thus responsible for: developing civilian human resource policies that support Government objectives and DND and CF missions

   

Assistant Deputy Minister (Materiel)    

• The Assistant Deputy Minister (Materiel) is responsible for ensuring effective material acquisition and logistics support to the CF and the DND. This involves a major role in the planning and implementation of the Long-Term Capital Equipment Plan and logistics planning and operations in general.

  CALS - Continuous Acquisition and Lifecycle Support
  Director- Cataloguing and Initial Provisioning
  Directorate of Disposal, Sales, Artifacts and Loans
  Land Command Systems Program Management
  Materiel Acquisition and Support Information System (MASIS)
  Memorandum of Understanding - Policy, Procedures and Guidelines
  Quality Engineering Test Establishment
  Weapon Effects Simulation (WES) Project
  Defence Research and Development Branch
  Defence Research Establishment Atlantic
  Defence Research Establishment Ottawa
  Defence Research Establishment Suffield
  Defence Research Establishment Valcartier
  Defence and Civil Institute of Environmental Medicine
  50 Years of Excellence

Assistant Deputy Minister (Infrastructure & Environment)     

• The Assistant Deputy Minister (Infrastructure and Environment) is responsible for the standard of infrastructure and environmental support provided to the CF and DND. This involves the setting of policies for the delivery and maintenance of buildings, utilities and other fixed facilities, as well as providing advice on infrastructure and environment matters. 
  

Assistant Deputy Minister (Finance & Corporate Services)    

• The Assistant Deputy Minister (Finance and Corporate Services) is the senior financial officer of the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Forces. The Assistant Deputy Minister (Finance and Corporate Services) is responsible for financial and administrative policies of both the Department and the Forces.