Lieutenant-General Frances Jennifer Allen, CMM, CD is a senior officer serving in the Royal Canadian Air Force.
On June 28, 2021, she assumed office as Vice Chief of the Defence Staff, becoming the first woman to hold the position.
[1][2] Allen's prior roles included serving as the Canadian military's director general for cyberspace, the National Defence Headquarters director general for information management operations, the joint force cyber component commander, and deputy Vice Chief of the Defence Staff.
Allen was considered a contender to become Chief of the Defence Staff after the departure of General Jonathan Vance in January 2021, but that position was given to Admiral Art McDonald.
[5] On March 9, 2021, it was announced that Allen would succeed Lieutenant-General Michael Rouleau as Vice Chief of the Defence Staff, making her the first woman to serve in that role.