Hamilton, Ontario – June 16, 2026 – Vice-Admiral Dan Charlebois officially took command of the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) during a formal change of command ceremony at His Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Star in Hamilton, Ontario. The ceremony was presided over by General Jennie Carignan, Chief of the Defence Staff, marking the transition from outgoing Commander Vice-Admiral Angus Topshee.
The event underscores a pivotal leadership shift for Canada’s naval force, which protects national sovereignty, safeguards maritime trade routes critical to the economy, and stands ready to respond to domestic and international crises.
In the ceremony, General Carignan praised Topshee’s tenure and expressed confidence in the incoming commander:
“Vice-Admiral Angus Topshee has led the Royal Canadian Navy through a period of significant transformation with determination and an unwavering commitment to the people of our Navy—sailors and civilians alike. I thank him for his leadership and for his efforts to strengthen readiness and prepare the institution for the challenges ahead. As Vice-Admiral Dan Charlebois assumes command, he brings the experience, character, and commitment required to lead our Navy into its next chapter. I am confident that, under his leadership, the Royal Canadian Navy will continue to deliver operational excellence at home and abroad, advance modernization, and serve Canadians with pride well into the future.”
Outgoing Commander Vice-Admiral Topshee reflected on his four years leading the RCN as part of a 36-year naval career:
“To lead as Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy has been a true honour and privilege. I have been inspired daily by the skill, grit, and ingenuity of our regular and reserve sailors and the wider Navy team whether in uniform or out, who deliver results for Canadians at home and abroad. I particularly thank the families and loved ones whose support makes our service possible. I am proud of how much we have achieved over the past four years, and grateful to have served alongside the remarkable people who delivered those results. While we have made a lot of progress, there is still a lot of difficult work to be done, and I can’t imagine anyone better to lead those efforts than Vice-Admiral Dan Charlebois.”
Vice-Admiral Charlebois, the 39th Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy and formerly its Deputy Commander, accepted the role with humility:
“I am humbled and honoured to assume the watch as Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy. Our sailors, together with our civilians and the families who support them, are the foundation of everything we do. I’m grateful for Vice-Admiral Topshee’s leadership and for the momentum built on his watch, and I look forward to working with the One Navy Team to strengthen our culture, support our people, sustain readiness today, and continue delivering the Navy Canada needs. I will strive to be worthy of the trust placed in me, and to lead with transparency, professionalism, and respect.”
Background on the Transition
Vice-Admiral Topshee will assume the position of Vice Chief of the Defence Staff in a separate ceremony later this summer.
The Royal Canadian Navy comprises approximately 13,000 full- and part-time military members and about 3,700 civilians, stationed across Canada and deployed worldwide. Its sailors represent Canada globally, contributing to operations with allies and partners while monitoring Canada’s vast 240,000 kilometres of coastline across three oceans.
Vice-Admiral Charlebois, 51, brings decades of experience. He joined the Navy in 1992 in Kingston, Ontario, at age 17, continuing a strong family naval tradition that includes his grandfather (Royal Navy, WWII), his mother (nurse in the Canadian Navy), and his great-grandfather (Royal Navy, both world wars).
He has emphasized that the Navy is more important now than it has been in years. Key priorities are expanding the fleet and recruiting new sailors to grow the force, continuing the momentum of recent growth, and undertaking the largest modernization of the Navy since the Second World War, with new ships being built and delivered over many decades.
