John Rogers Anderson


John Rogers Anderson, is a retired Canadian Forces officer and civil servant.

Military career

Anderson was born in British Columbia and attended University of British Columbia; he graduated with a BSc and attended a Long Operations Officers course. He joined the Royal Canadian Navy in 1959 and worked his way up the ranks. He became Commanding Officer of in 1978, Commanding Officer of the Naval Officers' Training Centre at CFB Esquimalt in 1980 and Commander of the First Canadian Destroyer Squadron in 1982. He went on to be Director Maritime Requirements at the National Defence Headquarters in 1983, Director General of Maritime Doctrine and Operations in 1986 and Chief of the Canadian Nuclear Submarine Acquisition Project in 1987. After that he became Chief of Maritime Doctrine and Operations in 1989, Commander Maritime Command in 1991, in which role he was proud to take possession of - the first of a completely new class of frigates, and Vice Chief of the Defence Staff in 1992. His last appointments were as Chief of Defence Staff of the Canadian Forces in 1993 and Canada's Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in Brussels, Belgium in 1994.
He was made a Commander of the Order of Military Merit in 1989.

Awards and decorations

Anderson's personal awards and decorations include the following:


RibbonDescriptionNotes
Order of Military Merit
Special Service Medal
  • with NATO-OTAN Clasp
  • Canadian Forces Decoration
  • with two Clasp for 32 years of service