Jean-Louis Georgelin
Encyclopedia
Army General (France)
A Général d'Armée is the highest active military rank of the French Army.Officially, Général d'armée is not a rank , but a position and style bestowed on some Généraux de division in charge of important commands, such as chief of staff of the army...
. Great Chancellor of the French national order of the Legion of honnor
Légion d'honneur
The Legion of Honour, or in full the National Order of the Legion of Honour is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of the Consulat which succeeded to the First Republic, on 19 May 1802...
from the 9 June 2010. He has been Chief of the Defence Staff
Chief of the Defence Staff (France)
The Chief of the Defence Staff is the chief of staff of the Military of France. The position is currently held by Admiral Édouard Guillaud.- Functions :The Chief of the Defence Staff has two roles:...
("Chef d'état-major des armées", CEMA) between 4 October 2006 and 25 February 2010.
Biography
After nine years at the Prytanée National MilitairePrytanée National Militaire
The Prytanée National Militaire, originally Collège Royal Henry-Le-Grand, is a French school managed by the military, offering regular secondary education as well as special preparatory school classes, equivalent in level to the first years of university, for students who wish to enter French...
, Georgelin joined Saint-Cyr
École Spéciale Militaire de Saint-Cyr
The École Spéciale Militaire de Saint-Cyr is the foremost French military academy. Its official name is . It is often referred to as Saint-Cyr . Its motto is "Ils s'instruisent pour vaincre": literally "They study to vanquish" or "Training for victory"...
in 1967.
As a lieutenant, he was chief of section at the école d'application de l'infanterie in 1975 and 1976, responsible for the formation of non-commissioned officers. He served in the 153rd infantry regiment as a captain.
As a commander he graduated from the United States Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth
Fort Leavenworth
Fort Leavenworth is a United States Army facility located in Leavenworth County, Kansas, immediately north of the city of Leavenworth in the upper northeast portion of the state. It is the oldest active United States Army post west of Washington, D.C. and has been in operation for over 180 years...
and then from the Institute of Higher National Defence Studies (IHEDN)
Institut des hautes études de défense nationale
The Institut des hautes études de défense nationale is a French public institution for expertise and sensibilisation towards defence matters, founded in 1936 by Admiral Raoul Castex...
in Paris.
From 1985 to 1988, as a lieutenant-colonel, he was in charge of a class at Saint-Cyr (promotion Cadets de la France Libre).
He then served at the chief of staff of the Army at the financial department from 1988 to 1991. He was aid to the chief of cabinet of the Prime Minister from 1994 to 1997. From 1998 and 2002 he served at the general staff of the Army, directing the "plans, programmes and evaluations" division.
Georgelin was personal chief of staff
Chief of the Military Staff of the President of the Republic
The Chief of the Military Staff of the President of the Republic is a role in the military and government of France, heading the president's military staff until the French Fifth Republic....
of President Jacques Chirac
Jacques Chirac
Jacques René Chirac is a French politician who served as President of France from 1995 to 2007. He previously served as Prime Minister of France from 1974 to 1976 and from 1986 to 1988 , and as Mayor of Paris from 1977 to 1995.After completing his studies of the DEA's degree at the...
from 25 October 2002 to 4 October 2006.
Promoted to Army General (France)
Army General (France)
A Général d'Armée is the highest active military rank of the French Army.Officially, Général d'armée is not a rank , but a position and style bestowed on some Généraux de division in charge of important commands, such as chief of staff of the army...
the 3d October 2003.
He was promoted to Chief of the Defence Staff by the miniterial council of 20 August 2006.
He became the Great Chancellor of the French national order of the Legion of honnor
Légion d'honneur
The Legion of Honour, or in full the National Order of the Legion of Honour is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of the Consulat which succeeded to the First Republic, on 19 May 1802...
by the ministerial council of 9 June 2010.
Honours
- Great Cross of the Légion d'HonneurLégion d'honneurThe Legion of Honour, or in full the National Order of the Legion of Honour is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of the Consulat which succeeded to the First Republic, on 19 May 1802...
- Great Cross of the Ordre national du MériteOrdre National du MériteThe Ordre national du Mérite is an Order of State awarded by the President of the French Republic. It was founded on 3 December 1963 by President Charles de Gaulle...
- Great Cross of Merit of the Federal Republic of GermanyBundesverdienstkreuzThe Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany is the only general state decoration of the Federal Republic of Germany. It has existed since 7 September 1951, and between 3,000 and 5,200 awards are given every year across all classes...
- Commandeur of the Legion of MeritLegion of MeritThe Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements...