Ramsey Muir Withers
Encyclopedia
Ramsey Muir Withers, CMM
, CD
(born July 28, 1930) is the oldest living past Chief of the Defence Staff
, the highest ranking position in the Canadian Forces
1980–1983.
to Scottish
immigrant parents, Ramsey was appointed to the position of Chief in 1980 following 32 years of distinguished military
service. In all, Withers spent 35 years in uniform, serving in the Korean War
and in command and staff positions throughout Canada
and overseas. Before becoming Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Withers was Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff.
From his retirement as CDS in 1983 until 1988, Withers served as Deputy Minister of Transport, during which time he was awarded the Commissioner's Award of the Northwest Territories
and the Outstanding Achievement Award of the Public Service of Canada.
Withers is a Professional Engineer
and a Fellow of Georgian College
, holding earned degrees from the Royal Military College of Canada
(student # 2951) and Queen's University
. He is a graduate of the Canadian Army Staff College and Britain's Joint Services Staff College
.
After retirement, Withers became president of a government relations firm, director of an aerospace
technology company, a consultant to the Office of the Auditor General
and Chairman of the Industry Government Relations Group.
He also continued to be active in volunteer work. In addition to chairing a committee that reviewed the undergraduate program at the Royal Military College of Canada
(culminating in the Withers Report), Ramsey is the honorary director of the Canadian War Museum. He is a former Trustee of the Canadian Museum of Civilization
and Chairman of the Canadian War Museum
Committee, former Director of the Canadian Institute of Strategic Studies, and an Honorary Vice-President of the Boy Scouts of Canada
.
General Withers is married, and he and his wife Allison (née Saunders) have three children and six grandchildren.
and the Outstanding Achievement Award of the Public Service of Canada. He is the winner of the Queen’s University Alumni Achievement Award. He is an honorary graduate of the National Defence College and the NATO Defense College. Withers holds two honorary doctorates. Archie Cairns composed the General Ramsey M. Withers (3/4 Retreat March 2003) for bagpipes in his honour.
Order of Military Merit (Canada)
The Order of Military Merit is a military honour for merit that is, within the Canadian system of honours, the second highest order administered by the Governor General-in-Council, on behalf of the Queen of Canada...
, CD
Canadian Forces Decoration
The Canadian Forces Decoration is a Canadian award bestowed upon members of the Canadian Forces who have completed twelve years of military service, with certain conditions. By convention, it is also given to the Governor General of Canada upon his or her appointment as viceroy, which includes the...
(born July 28, 1930) is the oldest living past Chief of the Defence Staff
Chief of the Defence Staff (Canada)
The Chief of the Defence Staff is the second most senior member of the Canadian Forces, and heads the Armed Forces Council, having primary responsibility for command, control, and administration of the forces, as well as military strategy, plans, and requirements...
, the highest ranking position in the Canadian Forces
Canadian Forces
The Canadian Forces , officially the Canadian Armed Forces , are the unified armed forces of Canada, as constituted by the National Defence Act, which states: "The Canadian Forces are the armed forces of Her Majesty raised by Canada and consist of one Service called the Canadian Armed Forces."...
1980–1983.
Military career
Born in Scarborough, OntarioScarborough, Ontario
Scarborough is a dissolved municipality within the city of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Geographically, it comprises the eastern part of Toronto. It is bordered on the south by Lake Ontario, on the west by Victoria Park Avenue, on the north by Steeles Avenue East, and on the east by the Rouge River...
to Scottish
Scottish people
The Scottish people , or Scots, are a nation and ethnic group native to Scotland. Historically they emerged from an amalgamation of the Picts and Gaels, incorporating neighbouring Britons to the south as well as invading Germanic peoples such as the Anglo-Saxons and the Norse.In modern use,...
immigrant parents, Ramsey was appointed to the position of Chief in 1980 following 32 years of distinguished military
Military
A military is an organization authorized by its greater society to use lethal force, usually including use of weapons, in defending its country by combating actual or perceived threats. The military may have additional functions of use to its greater society, such as advancing a political agenda e.g...
service. In all, Withers spent 35 years in uniform, serving in the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
and in command and staff positions throughout Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and overseas. Before becoming Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Withers was Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff.
From his retirement as CDS in 1983 until 1988, Withers served as Deputy Minister of Transport, during which time he was awarded the Commissioner's Award of the Northwest Territories
Northwest Territories
The Northwest Territories is a federal territory of Canada.Located in northern Canada, the territory borders Canada's two other territories, Yukon to the west and Nunavut to the east, and three provinces: British Columbia to the southwest, and Alberta and Saskatchewan to the south...
and the Outstanding Achievement Award of the Public Service of Canada.
Withers is a Professional Engineer
Engineer
An engineer is a professional practitioner of engineering, concerned with applying scientific knowledge, mathematics and ingenuity to develop solutions for technical problems. Engineers design materials, structures, machines and systems while considering the limitations imposed by practicality,...
and a Fellow of Georgian College
Georgian College
Georgian College is an Ontario College of Applied Arts and Technology. Its primary campus is in Barrie, Ontario, with satellite campuses in Orillia, Midland, Collingwood, Bracebridge, Port Colborne, Orangeville, and Owen Sound....
, holding earned degrees from the Royal Military College of Canada
Royal Military College of Canada
The Royal Military College of Canada, RMC, or RMCC , is the military academy of the Canadian Forces, and is a degree-granting university. RMC was established in 1876. RMC is the only federal institution in Canada with degree granting powers...
(student # 2951) and Queen's University
Queen's University
Queen's University, , is a public research university located in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Founded on 16 October 1841, the university pre-dates the founding of Canada by 26 years. Queen's holds more more than of land throughout Ontario as well as Herstmonceux Castle in East Sussex, England...
. He is a graduate of the Canadian Army Staff College and Britain's Joint Services Staff College
Joint Services Staff College
Joint Services Staff College may refer to:* Joint Services Staff College , the former name of the "Joint Service Defence College"* Joint Services Staff College , the former name of the "Centre for Defence and Strategic Studies"...
.
After retirement, Withers became president of a government relations firm, director of an aerospace
Aerospace
Aerospace comprises the atmosphere of Earth and surrounding space. Typically the term is used to refer to the industry that researches, designs, manufactures, operates, and maintains vehicles moving through air and space...
technology company, a consultant to the Office of the Auditor General
Auditor General of Canada
The role of the Auditor General of Canada is to aid accountability by conducting independent audits of federal government operations. The Auditor General reports to the House of Commons, not to the government...
and Chairman of the Industry Government Relations Group.
He also continued to be active in volunteer work. In addition to chairing a committee that reviewed the undergraduate program at the Royal Military College of Canada
Royal Military College of Canada
The Royal Military College of Canada, RMC, or RMCC , is the military academy of the Canadian Forces, and is a degree-granting university. RMC was established in 1876. RMC is the only federal institution in Canada with degree granting powers...
(culminating in the Withers Report), Ramsey is the honorary director of the Canadian War Museum. He is a former Trustee of the Canadian Museum of Civilization
Canadian Museum of Civilization
The Canadian Museum of Civilization is Canada's national museum of human history and the most popular and most-visited museum in Canada....
and Chairman of the Canadian War Museum
Canadian War Museum
The Canadian War Museum is Canada’s national museum of military history. Located in Ottawa, Ontario, the museum covers all facets of Canada’s military past, from the first recorded instances of death by armed violence in Canadian history several thousand years ago to the country’s most recent...
Committee, former Director of the Canadian Institute of Strategic Studies, and an Honorary Vice-President of the Boy Scouts of Canada
Scouts Canada
Scouts Canada is a Canadian Scouting association that, in affiliation with the French-language Association des Scouts du Canada, is a member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement...
.
General Withers is married, and he and his wife Allison (née Saunders) have three children and six grandchildren.
Honours
He was awarded the Commissioner's Award of the Northwest TerritoriesNorthwest Territories
The Northwest Territories is a federal territory of Canada.Located in northern Canada, the territory borders Canada's two other territories, Yukon to the west and Nunavut to the east, and three provinces: British Columbia to the southwest, and Alberta and Saskatchewan to the south...
and the Outstanding Achievement Award of the Public Service of Canada. He is the winner of the Queen’s University Alumni Achievement Award. He is an honorary graduate of the National Defence College and the NATO Defense College. Withers holds two honorary doctorates. Archie Cairns composed the General Ramsey M. Withers (3/4 Retreat March 2003) for bagpipes in his honour.