Andrew Leslie

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Andrew Leslie
Born in December 1957
Image:LGen Andrew Leslie.jpg Lieutenant-General Andrew Leslie, CMM, MSC, MSM, CD
Allegiance	Canada
Service/branch	Canadian Army
Rank	Lieutenant-General
Commands	Chief of the Land Staff
Awards	Commander of the Order of Military Merit Canadian Forces Decoration

Lieutenant-General Andrew Brooke Leslie CMM, MSC, MSM, CD (born December, 1957) is the Chief of the Land Staff and Commander Land Forces Command of the Canadian Forces.

While studying economics at the University of Ottawa, Leslie joined the 30th Field Artillery Regiment of the Canadian Forces Reserves. Leslie rose through the ranks and in 1993 assumed command of the 1st Regiment, Royal Canadian Horse Artillery, based at CFB Shilo. Leslie's father had also commanded this regiment.

In 2003 Leslie was promoted to the rank of Major General. Later that year he became Deputy Commander of the International Security Assistance Force in Kabul, Afghanistan, following the 2001 U.S. invasion of Afghanistan. On June 15, 2006, Lieutenant-General Andrew Leslie succeeded Lieutenant-General Marc Caron as Chief of the Land Staff and Commander Land Forces Command.

Commenting in the summer of 2005 on Canada's increasing military presence in Afghanistan, General Leslie stated: "Afghanistan is a 20-year venture. There are things worth fighting for. There are things worth dying for. There are things worth killing for." In the same speech, he stated: "Every time you kill an angry young man overseas, you're creating 15 more who will come after you."

In December, 2006, he was made a Commander of the Legion of Merit of the United States of America. In April 2007 he was promoted within the Canadian Order of Military Merit to the Rank of Commander (CMM).

He is a grandson of Canadian General and former Chief of the General Staff and Minister of National Defence Andrew MacNaughton and former Canadian Minister of National Defence Brooke Claxton.