Natynczyk joined the
Canadian Forces in August 1975. He attended
Royal Roads Military College and
Collège militaire royal de Saint-Jean, graduating in 1979 with a degree in
Business Administration. Natynczyk led the Corps' 35,000 soldiers, consisting of 10 separate brigades, stationed throughout the Iraq Theatre of Operations. He was later awarded the
Meritorious Service Cross specifically for his combat efforts in
Operation Iraqi Freedom January 2004 to January 2005. Upon his return to Canada, he assumed command of the Land Force Doctrine and Training System. He was subsequently appointed Chief of Transformation, where he was responsible for implementation of the force restructuring and the enabling processes and policies. Natynczyk was promoted to
general, and installed as CDS on July 2, 2008. General Natynczyk transferred his appointment at a change of command ceremony in 2012. On February 16, 2012, in Washington, the U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, general
Martin Dempsey, awarded the
Legion of Merit (Degree of Commander) to Natynczyk.
Retirement from the Canadian Forces Natynczyk retired from the Canadian Armed Forces in December 2012 to take on public service, after transferring control of the defence staff to his successor, RCAF General
Thomas Lawson, just 2 months earlier. ==Post-military career==