OTTAWA — In a significant leadership shake-up at the top of Canada’s military, Vice-Admiral Angus Topshee, the outspoken commander of the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN), has been promoted to the position of Vice Chief of the Defence Staff (VCDS), the second-highest role in the Canadian Armed Forces.
The promotion was announced this week in an internal Canadian Armed Forces communiqué. Topshee replaces Vice-Admiral Stephen Kelsey, who has held the VCDS position since 2024 and is retiring after two years in the role.
Topshee, who has led the RCN since May 2022, is known for his unusually candid public commentary on the navy’s challenges and future direction. In 2023, Topshee had warned of the RCN’s “critical state,” stating, “The RCN faces some very serious challenges right now that could mean we fail to meet our force posture and readiness commitments in 2024 and beyond.” Since then, he has continued to speak openly about issues ranging from transforming uncrewed vessels into armed platforms and advancing Canada’s submarine procurement plans to his vision for a new class of corvette warships.
Topshee joined the Canadian Armed Forces in 1990, graduating from the Royal Military College of Canada in 1994. His extensive career includes command of Canadian Fleet Pacific, Maritime Forces Pacific, and Joint Task Force Pacific. As the 38th Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy, he has been a vocal advocate for modernizing Canada’s fleet amid growing global tensions, Arctic security concerns, and domestic recruitment and readiness pressures.
His elevation to VCDS places him at the heart of strategic decision-making for the entire Canadian Armed Forces, overseeing day-to-day operations and supporting the Chief of the Defence Staff.
Rear-Admiral Dan Charlebois Takes the Helm of the Navy
Succeeding Topshee as Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy is Rear-Admiral Dan Charlebois, who will be promoted to the rank of Vice-Admiral. Charlebois has served as Deputy Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy since the summer of 2025.
A native of Kingston, Ontario, Charlebois began his military career in 1992 as a Naval Reservist before transferring to the Regular Force in 1994 under the Regular Officer Training Program. He graduated from Wilfrid Laurier University in 1997 and completed Naval Warfare Officer training the following year. Much of his early career was spent at sea, serving in key roles aboard the frigates HMCS Charlottetown and HMCS Halifax, including deployments to the Persian Gulf, Arabian Sea, and Mediterranean in support of United Nations sanctions and counter-terrorism operations.
Charlebois later attended the U.S. Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island, earning a Master of Science in Management from Salve Regina University, also in Newport, Rhode Island. He has held numerous command and staff positions, including commanding officer of HMCS Regina and, in 2021, leadership of Combined Task Force 150 (CTF 150), a multinational counter-terrorism naval task force operating in the Indian Ocean and Gulf of Aden.
His appointment comes at a pivotal time for the RCN, which continues to grapple with fleet modernization, shipbuilding delays, and the need to enhance operational readiness in an increasingly complex security environment.
The changes reflect the Canadian military’s ongoing efforts to refresh senior leadership while addressing long-standing capability gaps in the navy. Topshee’s move to VCDS and Charlebois’s elevation ensure continuity in addressing the RCN’s ambitious modernization goals, from new surface combatants to enhanced Arctic capabilities.
This transition underscores the high demands placed on Canada’s senior defence leaders as they navigate both domestic constraints and international commitments.
