Vice-Admiral Joseph Alphonse Denis Rouleau CMM MSM CD is a retired officer who served in the Royal Canadian Navy.

Joseph Alphonse Denis Rouleau
Allegiance Canada
Service/branch Royal Canadian Navy
Years of service1972 - 2012
RankVice-Admiral
Commands heldVice Chief of the Defence Staff
AwardsCommander of the Order of Military Merit
Meritorious Service Medal
Canadian Forces' Decoration

Career edit

Rouleau completed a bachelor's degree in engineering and management at the Royal Military College of Canada and attended the Canadian Forces College, graduating the Advanced Military Studies Course and the National Security Studies Course.

Rouleau served as executive officer on HMCS Skeena and as commanding officer on HMCS Athabaskan, both destroyers, before becoming the first Canadian naval officer ever assigned to NORAD. After serving in various administrative positions at the National Defence Headquarters, he took command of the multi-national Standing NATO Maritime Group One before heading back to Ottawa.[1]

From June 15, 2008, until July 25, 2010, Rouleau served as the Vice Chief of the Defence Staff.[2]

Rouleau's last posting from August 2010 until his retirement in 2012 was as Canada's military representative to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.[3]

Awards and decorations edit

Rouleau's personal awards and decorations include the following:



Ribbon Description Notes
  Order of Military Merit (CMM)
  • Appointed Commander (CMM) on 28 November 2008[4]
  • Appointed Officer (OMM) on 29 September 2004 [5]
  Meritorious Service Medal (MSM)
  • Decoration awarded on 23 November 2007[6]
  • Military division
  Special Service Medal
  • with NATO-OTAN Clasp
  Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal
  • Decoration awarded in 1977
  • Canadian version
  Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal
  • Decoration awarded 2002[7]
  • Canadian version
  Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal
  • Decoration awarded in 2012[8]
  • Canadian version
  Canadian Forces' Decoration (CD)
  • with two Clasp for 32 years of services

References edit

  1. ^ Denis Rouleau Archived 2010-06-12 at the Wayback Machine Biography
  2. ^ Rear-Admiral Denis Rouleau is Announced as Next Vice Chief of the Defence Staff for the Canadian Forces
  3. ^ Vice-Admiral J.A. Denis Rouleau NATO
  4. ^ "Order of Military Merit List". The Governor General of Canada.
  5. ^ "Order of Military Merit List". The Governor General of Canada.
  6. ^ "Meritorious Service Decorations List". The Governor General of Canada.
  7. ^ "The Queen Golden Jubilee Medal List". The Governor General of Canada. 11 June 2018.
  8. ^ "The Queen Diamond Jubilee Medal List". The Governor General of Canada.
Military offices
Preceded by Vice Chief of the Defence Staff
2008-2010
Succeeded by