Andrew Leslie

Infobox Military Person
name=Andrew Leslie


caption= Lieutenant-General Andrew Leslie, CMM, MSC, MSM, CD
born= December 1957
died=
placeofbirth=
placeofdeath=
rank=Lieutenant-General
commands=Chief of the Land Staff
unit=
battles=
family=
nickname=
allegiance=Canada
branch=Canadian Army
serviceyears=
portrayedby=
laterwork=
awards=Commander of the Order of Military Merit Canadian Forces Decoration

Lieutenant-General Andrew Brooke Leslie CMM, MSC, MSM, CD (born December, 1957) is the Chief of the Land Staff and Commander Land Forces Command of the Canadian Forces.

Military career

While studying economics at the University of Ottawa, Leslie joined the 30th Field Artillery Regiment of the Canadian Forces Reserves. Leslie rose through the ranks and in 1993 assumed command of the 1st Regiment, Royal Canadian Horse Artillery, based at CFB Shilo. Leslie's father had also commanded this regiment.

In 1996 Leslie was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal] for his outstanding leadership while serving at the rank of Colonel as Chief of Staff, United Nations Sector South Headquarters in Croatia in 1995. The citation for this medal noted: "His professionalism and remarkable courage were clearly demonstrated between August 4 and 6, during Operation Storm -- the Croatian offensive in the Krajina district." [ [http://www.gg.ca/honours/search-recherche/honours-desc.asp?lang=e&TypeID=msd&id=12705 Meritorious Service Decorations - Military, Major-General Andrew Brooke Leslie, OMM, MSC, MSM, CD] Governor General of Canada.]

In 2003 Leslie was promoted to the rank of Major General. Later that year he became Deputy Commander of the International Security Assistance Force in Kabul, Afghanistan, following the 2001 U.S. invasion of Afghanistan.

Commenting in the summer of 2005 on Canada's increasing military presence in Afghanistan, General Leslie stated: "Afghanistan is a 20-year venture. There are things worth fighting for. There are things worth dying for. There are things worth killing for." In the same speech, he also stated: "Every time you kill an angry young man overseas, you're creating 15 more who will come after you."

On June 15, 2006, Lieutenant-General Andrew Leslie succeeded Lieutenant-General Marc Caron as Chief of the Land Staff and Commander Land Forces Command.

In December, 2006, he was made a Commander of the Legion of Merit of the United States of America. In April 2007 he was promoted within the Canadian Order of Military Merit to the Rank of Commander (CMM).

Leslie is a prosecution witness in the ongoing trial of three Croatian generals at the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia. [ [http://www.un.org/icty/indictment/english/got-coramdjoind080312e.pdf Amended Joinder Indictment, Gotovina, Čermak and Markač (IT-06-90) "OPERATION STORM"] , 12 March 2008. International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia. Accessed 30-04-2008] Defense attorney allegations in this trial have brought to light a small error in the medal citation as to the identity of the civilians rescued during this military action. The citation mistakenly described the civilians rescued as "40 United Nations employees trapped in their residences" rather than "40 Serb civilians trapped in the Knin hospital". [ [http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2008/04/24/leslie-icty.html Canadian army chief grilled at war crimes tribunal] , April 24, 2008. CBC News. Accessed 30-04-2008] [ [http://www.forces.gc.ca/site/newsroom/view_news_e.asp?id=2633 Statement by the vice chief of the Defence staff on behalf of the Chief of the Defence staff] NR–08.018 - April 24, 2008. National Defence and the Canadian Forces. Accessed 30-04-2008]

Family

He is a grandson of Canadian General and former Chief of the General Staff and Minister of National Defence Andrew MacNaughton and former Canadian Minister of National Defence Brooke Claxton.

References

External links

*Department of National Defence. [http://www.forces.gc.ca/dsa/app_bio/engraph/FSeniorOfficerBiographyView_e.asp?SectChoice=1&mAction=View&mBiographyID=62 Biography of Lieutenant-General Andrew Leslie]
*Canadian Army. [http://www.army.forces.gc.ca/Land_Force/English/1_6_2_6.asp?FlashEnabled=-1 Biography of Lieutenant-General Andrew B. Leslie] .
*Foreign Affairs Canada. [http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/canada-magazine/issue20/04-title-en.asp "Canada's Commander in Afghanistan"] Canada World View (issue 20 Autumn 2003).
*NATO’s Allied Command Transformation. [http://www.act.nato.int/multimedia/articles/2004/090704mgenleslie.htm "NATO Needs to Transform its Logistics Support Says Former ISAF Deputy Commander During ACT Visit"] .
*Department of National Defence. [http://www.forces.gc.ca/site/newsroom/view_news_e.asp?id=1952 News Release: Army Gets New Commander] . June 15, 2006