Vice-Admiral Angus Topshee, the outspoken head of the Royal Canadian Navy, has been promoted to the military's second-in-command position. In an internal communiqué issued this week, the Canadian Armed Forces announced that Topshee is replacing Vice Chief of Defence Staff Stephen Kelsey, who is retiring after two years in the role.
Topshee's Unusually Forthcoming Leadership
Topshee is known as an unusually forthcoming military commander who does not shy away from sharing his views on the state of the navy. In 2023, he published a video in which he decried the 'critical state' that the branch found itself in. '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,' he said in the video posted to YouTube at the time.
His public profile has only increased since then. He has openly discussed the navy's desire to transform remote-controlled vessels into lethal missiles, opined on Canada's major submarine procurement strategy, and discussed publicly his vision for the CAF's new corvette warships.
Transition of Command
Rear-Admiral Dan Charlebois, Deputy Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy, will take over from Topshee as top naval commander. Topshee's promotion to Vice Chief of Defence Staff marks a significant step in his career, placing him as the second-highest-ranking officer in the Canadian Armed Forces.
Kelsey, who has been VCDS since 2024, is retiring two years into the job. The change in leadership comes at a critical time for the Canadian military, as it faces various challenges including equipment modernization and readiness commitments.
