In 1981, after four years as an Army Cadet, Lieutenant-General Paul Wynnyk joined the 20th Field Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery (Militia) in the rank of Gunner prior to his acceptance under the Regular Officer Training Plan. Studying at both Royal Roads Military College and the Royal Military College of Canada, he was commissioned into the Canadian Military Engineers in 1986 and subsequently undertook regimental duties in both Europe and in Canada.

LGen Wynnyk’s command appointments include 1 Combat Engineer Regiment from 1997 to 1999, 1 Area Support Group from 2004 to 2006, Land Force Western Area/Joint Task Force West (now 3rd Canadian Division) from 2010 to 2012, Canadian Forces Intelligence Command from 2014 to 2016 and the Canadian Army from 2016 to 2018.

Serving in a variety of staff assignments over the course of his career, he has held a number of positions at National Defence Headquarters including the operations desk officer responsible for Canada's military commitment in the Balkans, and a posting to the Privy Council Office where he was employed as the Senior Defence Advisor and Director of Operations for the Foreign and Defence Policy Advisor to the Prime Minister.

LGen Wynnyk's overseas assignments include, in addition to four years of service in Germany, tours with the UN Advance Mission in Cambodia, the UN Transitional Authority in Cambodia, and an assignment as the Canadian Task Force Commander and mission Chief of Operations of the Mission de l'Organisation des Nations Unies en République démocratique du Congo. In 2009, he was posted to the Combined Security Transition Command - Afghanistan as the Assistant Commanding General responsible for overseeing the development of the Afghan Ministry of Defense and the Afghan National Army.

LGen Wynnyk is a graduate of the Canadian Forces Command and Staff Course, the Advanced Military Studies Course and the National Security Studies Programme. He holds a Baccalaureate in civil engineering, Master's degrees in both war studies and business administration (international business), and is a registered professional engineer in the province of Alberta and a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering. LGen Wynnyk is a Commander of the Order of Military Merit, a graduate of the French Commando Course, and has been decorated by the Governments of Afghanistan, Brazil, Columbia and the United States for his leadership in promoting international security and cooperation.

LGen Wynnyk was appointed Vice Chief of the Defence Staff on July 16, 2018.