The old adage that winning the war is easier than winning the peace might be something Lt.-Gen. Tom Lawson takes to heart as he assumes his place as the country's next top military commander.
The former fighter pilot was named Monday as the new chief of the defence staff, replacing the retiring Gen. Walt Natynczyk, who held the job for more than four years.
Introducing Lawson to national media, Defence Minister Peter MacKay said he has big "combat boots to fill," but military observers say the new chief's battles will mostly be in the back rooms of Ottawa.
MacKay praised the smooth, low-key officer as a man who leaves a strong impression.
"In my time as minister of National Defence, I've heard time and time again from all personnel of all ranks the extremely personal bonds that he has developed with colleagues, staff and former military college students and about the lasting, positive impressions that he has made," MacKay said.
The 37-year air force veteran, who is currently deputy commander of the North American Aerospace Defence Command, inherits a military in transition out of the Afghan war, a Conservative government in costcutting mode and a major political-public relations fiasco in the F-35 stealth fighter.
Lawson said he is honoured and delighted to be taking over command of "an organization in which I have quite literally grown up."
His career trajectory has taken him from the cockpits of CF-104 Starfighters and CF-18 Hornets to the staid halls of the Royal Military College as commandant. He has also served in some of the major planning arms of the military, including a stint as assistant chief of air staff.
In that job, he was kneedeep in planning for the F-35.
He's known as a backer of the troubled program, but Monday he stuck to the government's carefully scripted position that all options are being considered: "It will continue to contend for the replacement for the CF-18," he said.
