John Rogers Anderson

John Rogers Anderson, is a retired Canadian Forces officer, former Canadian diplomat and civil servant.

Early life and career

Anderson was born in British Columbia and attended the University of British Columbia. After graduating with a BSc in 1959, he joined the Royal Canadian Navy and thereafter gradually progressed through the commissioned officer ranks.

From 1963 to 1966 he completed the Long Operations Course at HMCS Stadacona, then served in the frigates and followed by a staff posting to Royal Roads Military College.
He was appointed to the aircraft carrier in 1968.
In 1970, he joined the CCS 280 Programming Team as a Programmer at Canadian Forces Headquarters in Ottawa.
In 1974, Anderson became executive officer in the destroyer. In 1975, he studied at the Canadian Forces Command and Staff College in Toronto. He became commanding officer of the frigate in 1978; commanding officer of the Naval Officers' Training Centre at CFB Esquimalt in 1980; and commander of the First Canadian Destroyer Squadron in 1982.
Subsequent appointments included Director Maritime Requirements at the National Defence Headquarters in 1983; Director General of Maritime Doctrine and Operations in 1986; and Chief of the Canadian Nuclear Submarine Acquisition Project in 1987. Thereafter he became Chief of Maritime Doctrine and Operations in 1989; Commander Maritime Command in 1991; and Vice [Chief of the Defence Staff |Vice Chief of the Defence Staff] in 1992.
Promoted to full Admiral in 1993, he briefly served as Chief of the [Defence Staff |Chief of Defence Staff] of the Canadian Forces before retiring at the end of the year. His last appointment was as Canada's Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in Brussels, Belgium in 1994.
He was made a Commander of the Order of Military Merit in 1989.

Anderson's personal awards and decorations include the following:

Ribbon	Description	Notes
	Order of Military Merit	Appointed Commander on 10 July 1989
	Special Service Medal	with NATO-OTAN Clasp
	125th Anniversary of the [Confederation of Canada Medal]	1992
	Canadian Forces' Decoration	with two Clasp for 32 years of service