The Canadian Joint Forces Command (CJFC) was officially established on 25 November 2025 by Minister of National Defence David J McGuinty as a new Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) command designed to strengthen leadership, co-ordination and accountability for joint military capabilities across the CAF.
Lieutenant-General Darcy Molstad and Chief Warrant Officer Donovan Crawford have been named as the inaugural CJFC command team.
“CJFC will bring together people, systems, and expertise from across the CAF to build and manage the joint capabilities needed to protect Canada and meaningfully contribute to our allies and partners,” the Canadian Department of National Defence stated in a 4 December 2025 press release. “This new command reflects a shift toward integrated defence operations, enabling the CAF to respond effectively across all domains — land, sea, air, cyber, space and information environment.”
Just as the Royal Canadian Navy, Canadian Army, and Royal Canadian Air Force develop and manage their respective capabilities, the creation of CJFC will enable the same standard for joint capabilities across the CAF.
“The establishment of the Canadian Joint Forces Command marks a significant step forward in modernising our military,” said McGuinty. “I’m incredibly proud of the dedication, professionalism, and vision our members have shown in bringing it to life. This new command will allow the Canadian Armed Forces to be better integrated, agile, and ready to meet the complex challenges of today and tomorrow.”
The Canadian Chief of the Defence Staff, General Jennie Carignan, added, “The establishment of the Canadian Joint Forces Command reflects our commitment to building a future-ready force as part of our ongoing transformation and modernisation efforts. I am extremely proud of the teams whose hard work and expertise made this possible. The future is joint, and by consolidating leadership and integrating joint capabilities, we are enhancing our ability to deliver joint effects across all domains.”
The CJFC was established after multiple studies identified gaps in how CAF joint capabilities were generated, developed, managed, and sustained. CJFC addresses these gaps by centralising leadership and accountability for joint capabilities, improving coherence and innovation, and supporting interoperability across domains and with allied and partner forces.
The CJFC also integrates several specialised organizations: the Chief of Combat Systems Integration, the Canadian Forces Military Police Group, the Canadian Joint Warfare Centre, the Director General Health Services and the Canadian Forces Health Services Group, the Chief of Joint Logistics, and the Joint Information and Intelligence Fusion Centre.
Some joint capabilities remain under their current level one organisation but share accountability with CJFC, such as integrated air and missile defence (RCAF), joint engineering (Assistant Deputy Minister Infrastructure & Environment), and joint communication and information systems (Digital Services Group).
