Bruce Donaldson

Vice-Admiral (Retired) Bruce Donaldson, CMM, CD, joined CFN Consultants in September 2014. Located in Victoria, BC, he supports clients on the west coast, but also offers advice and expertise at the national level.

VAdm (Ret’d) Donaldson served as Vice Chief of the Defence Staff from July 2010 until his retirement from the Canadian Armed Forces in September 2013. As VCDS, and second in command of the Canadian Armed Forces, he was directly involved in managing the full spectrum of the defence institution. He led the development and execution of the twenty-plus billion dollar Defence Services Programme, and the long range strategic and capability planning for the CAF. He was central to the planning and implementation of several phases of defence renewal and transformation, working closely with other senior leaders in DND and the CAF. He also directed and oversaw the security and policing functions in DND and the CAF. He worked at the highest levels across the defence institution and government in major procurement, personnel and financial management.

Prior to his appointment as VCDS, VAdm Donaldson commanded domestic and continental operations for the CAF, as Commander Canada Command, in the crucial period during which were held the 2010 Vancouver Games and the G8/G20 summits. Previous to that, he had spent 18 months as Director of the Strategic Joint Staff - the operations manager for the CAF - and two years in command of the Canadian Pacific Fleet. His earlier command appointments include the frigate HMCS VANCOUVER, the Sea Training Staff on the West Coast, and the destroyer HMCS ATHABASKAN, while flagship for the Canadian Atlantic Fleet.

VAdm Donaldson holds a Bachelors Degree in Political Science and Economics from Carleton University in Ottawa, and a Masters Degree in International Relations and Maritime Strategic Studies from Dalhousie University in Halifax. He is a graduate of the Command and Staff and National Security Studies Courses at the Canadian Forces College in Toronto, as well as of the Advanced Leadership Programme run by the Canada School of Public Service.