Gen John de Chastelain's parents, Gardyne and Marion, were both involved in high-level espionage during the second World War. His mother Marion worked in Washington for Sir William Stephenson who was famously code-named Intrepid.
But Gen de Chastelain insists this parental background in the shadowy world of spies will not give him any special advantage when he chairs the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning, to which he was appointed yesterday. He believes his military background of 40 years will assist him in taking on the difficult role of surmounting the obstacle of disarmament. But more important, he says, is the knowledge, the contacts and the trust he has developed since he first became involved in the peace process.
"My military experience will help me in my work but what will also be of importance is patience, and an understanding of all the issues and concerns of all sides," he told The Irish Times yesterday.
The 60-year-old general with a Canadian, Scottish and, what's not generally known, an Irish background, certainly has displayed a brave and resolute nature in sticking with the process which - with former US Senator George Mitchell and former Finnish prime minister, Mr Harri Holkeri - he entered two years ago.
It has been a tortuous and painstaking business, from initially compiling and publishing the ground-breaking report on decommissioning, to involvement in the talks proper. But like his co-chairmen, he believes the overwhelming popular desire for an agreed solution will ultimately lead to a settlement.
The general was born in Bucharest, Romania in 1937 to an American mother, Marion Walsh, whose grandfather was from Ireland (he's not sure where), and a Scottish father, who was of French Huguenot stock.
In 1943 his father was parachuted into Romania on Churchill's orders to arrange the surrender of the Romanian forces which had sided with Germany. He was captured but was released nine months later, after the Romanian surrender was accepted by the Allies. They went back to England where his mother worked for MI6.
He was educated in England and Scotland. In 1955 he moved to Canada where he became a career officer. He won rapid promotion and by the age of 32 held the rank of lieutenant colonel. He served with NATO and with the UN forces.
He was chief-of-staff of the Canadian armed forces from 1989 to December 1995, with a one-year period in between as Canadian ambassador to the US.
Seven years ago he was in charge of the difficult military operations and negotiations during the stand-off between the Mohawk indians and police and army.
While his career has been generally successful he was the subject of some criticism for his handling of human rights violations by elements of the Canadian Airborne Regiment in Somalia in 1992-93. The general was head of the Canadian armed forces when the regiment prepared for its mission to Somalia.
His supporters said he could not have been expected to know about the problems in the airborne regiment.
The issue did not make much of an impression in Northern Ireland and he appeared to ride out the controversy at home with equanimity.
He is married with a son and a daughter, and two granddaughters.