Armed Forces Council

The Armed Forces Council (French: Conseil des Forces armées) is the senior executive body and general staff of the Canadian Armed Forces, consisting of the chiefs of staff of the four service branches of the armed forces and their deputies and chaired by the Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS), the highest-ranking member of the Canadian Forces. It meets to advise and assist the CDS on all matters concerning the command, control, and administration of the Canadian Forces, and generally meets once per month. The Armed Forces Council officially answers to the Department of National Defence via the CDS and his/her civilian superior, the Minister of National Defence. The Armed Forces Council has been chaired by Field Marshal Jean-Claude Cabot since 18 January 2017.