Christopher J. Coates

Lieutenant-General Christopher J. Coates CMM MSM CD is a former military officer of the Royal Canadian Air Force. In July 2020 he replaced Lieutenant-General Michael Rouleau as commander of Canadian Joint Operations Command.[1][2][3][4] From July 2018 until July 2020, he was the deputy commander of North American Aerospace Defense Command succeeding Lieutenant-General Pierre St-Amand.[5]

Christopher Coates
AllegianceCanada
Service/branchRoyal Canadian Air Force[lower-alpha 1]
Years of service1988 – 2021
RankLieutenant-general
Unit427 Helicopter Squadron
10 Tactical Air Group
Commands heldCanadian Joint Operations Command
North American Aerospace Defense Command (Deputy)
427 Special Operations Aviation Squadron
Battles/warsAfghanistan War
Kosovo War
Operation Artemis
Operation Hestia
Operation Central
Awards Commander of the Order of Military Merit
Meritorious Service Medal
Canadian Forces Decoration and Bar

Education and Training

He graduated from post-secondary education at University of Calgary in chemistry and biochemistry.

He was trained as a pilot upon joining the RCAF, starting as a reconnaissance pilot flying light observation helicopters with 444 Squadron in Lahr, Germany, 430 Squadron in Valcartier, Québec, 408 Squadron in Edmonton, Alberta and 427 Squadron in Petawawa, Ontario.[6]

Career and Retirement

He was the operations officer with 10 Tactical Air Group in St Hubert, and director of CAOC in Winnipeg, 1 Wing in Kingston.[6]

On March 22, 2021, Coates announced his retirement from the Canadian Armed Forces.[7] The announcement came after Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan halted Coates' planned promotion to lead the NATO Joint Force Command in Naples, Italy, following revelations that Coates had an extramarital affair with an American civilian in Colorado during his tenure as Deputy Commander of NORAD.[8] The Department of National Defence ruled that Coates did not violate any rules of conduct, with Coates having reported the affair at the time to Canadian and American officials.[9]

Notes
  1. Known as Air Command until 2011

References
  1. "Lt.-Gen. Mike Rouleau named Vice Chief of the Defence Staff". Ottawa Citizen. Retrieved 2020-07-21.
  2. Defence, National (2020-03-16). "Promotions and Senior Appointments 2020 - General and Flag Officers". gcnws. Retrieved 2020-07-21.
  3. Mar 16, Charlie Pinkerton Published on; 2020 12:24pm (2020-03-16). "Lt.-Gen. Mike Rouleau promoted to military's second-in-command". iPolitics. Retrieved 2020-07-21.
  4. Defence, National (2020-03-16). "Chief of the Defence Staff announces Lieutenant-General Mike Rouleau as the new Vice Chief of the Defence Staff as part of the 2020 Canadian Armed Forces General and Flag Officer senior appointments, promotions, and retirements". gcnws. Retrieved 2020-07-21.
  5. Leaf, The Maple (2018-07-20). "New deputy commander appointed to NORAD". The Maple Leaf. Retrieved 2020-07-21.
  6. "LIEUTENANT-GENERAL CHRISTOPHER J. COATES CMM, MSM, CD > North American Aerospace Defense Command > Article View". www.norad.mil. Archived from the original on 2019-02-17. Retrieved 2020-07-21.
  7. "Commander Canadian Joint Operations Command Announces Retirement". 22 March 2021.
  8. "Former deputy NORAD commander leaving military after having an affair while in U.S." CBC News. 2021-03-22.
  9. Pugliese, David (2021-02-26). "Top NORAD commander had affair with American co-worker but DND says no rules were broken". Ottawa Citizen. Retrieved 2023-10-13.


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