Early life
Both Polish-Canadian and German-Canadian, Natynczyk was born to a family of European emigrants from war-ravaged Europe on October 29, 1957, inMilitary career
Natynczyk joined theChief of the Defence Staff
On June 6, 2008, Prime Minister Stephen Harper appointed Natynczyk as the next Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS), replacing retiring GeneralRetirement from the Canadian Forces
Natynczyk retired from the Canadian Armed Forces in December 2012 to take on public service, after transferring control of the defence staff to his successor, RCAF General Thomas Lawson, just 2 months earlier.Post-military career
On August 6, 2013, he was appointed president of the Canadian Space Agency by Prime Minister Stephen Harper. He was appointed as the 9th Deputy Minister ofReferences
{{DEFAULTSORT:Natynczyk, Walter Chiefs of the Defence Staff (Canada) Vice Chiefs of the Defence Staff (Canada) Recipients of the Meritorious Service Decoration People from Winnipeg Canadian generals Commanders of the Order of Military Merit (Canada) 1958 births Living people United States Army War College alumni Royal Military College Saint-Jean alumni Royal Military College of Canada faculty Commanders of the Legion of Merit Canadian military personnel of the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021) 21st-century Canadian civil servants Canadian people of German descent The Royal Canadian Dragoons officers Canadian people of Polish descent