Lieutenant-General Alexander Donald Meinzinger CMM MSM CD is a retired senior Royal Canadian Air Force officer who was Commander of the Royal Canadian Air Force from 2018 until 2022.

Al Meinzinger
Meinzinger in 2013
AllegianceCanada
Service/branchRoyal Canadian Air Force[a]
Years of service1985–2022
RankLieutenant General
Commands held
AwardsCommander of the Order of Military Merit
Meritorious Service Medal
Canadian Forces' Decoration

Career edit

Meinzinger joined the Canadian Forces in 1985 through the Regular Officer Training Plan where he received a Bachelor of Arts Honours degree in Economics and Commerce from the Royal Military College of Canada.[1] After serving as commander of 403 (Helicopter) Operational Training Squadron, he was deployed to Afghanistan as commander of Canada's Joint Task Force Afghanistan Air Wing in 2011.[1] He went on to be Deputy Director of Strategy, Policy and Plans at North American Aerospace Defense Command / United States Northern Command in June 2012, commandant of the Royal Military College of Canada in July 2013 and Deputy Commander of the Royal Canadian Air Force in May 2015. After that he became Director of Staff, Strategic Joint Staff in March 2017 and Commander of the Royal Canadian Air Force in May 2018. Meinzinger retired from the Canadian Armed Forces in August 2022.[2]

Military awards edit


1st row  
2nd row    
3rd row      
4th row      
1st row Royal Canadian Air Force Pilot Flying Badge
2nd row Commander of the Order of Military Merit Meritorious Service Cross (Military Division)
3rd row General Campaign Star
  • South-West Asia
Canadian Peacekeeping Service Medal Mission in Haiti Medal
4th row Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal Canadian Forces' Decoration with 2 Clasps (32 years) Legion of Merit (Officer)

Notes edit

  1. ^ Known as Air Command until 2011.

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Major-General A.D. Meinzinger, OMM, MSM, CD - Biography". National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
  2. ^ "Aircraft flypast to mark RCAF change of command – Lt.-Gen. Meinzinger assumes command Friday". Ottawa Citizen. 3 May 2018. Retrieved 6 May 2018.

External links edit

Military offices
Preceded by Commander of the Royal Canadian Air Force
May 2018 - August 2022
Succeeded by