Édouard Guillaud
Encyclopedia
Admiral Édouard Guillaud (born 10 July 1953) is a French Navy officer and admiral. He has devoted a significant part of his career to the design of the Charles De Gaulle, and eventually captained her. He currently serves as Chief of the Defence Staff
. Guillaud assumed his current assignment on 25 February 2010.
.
Édouard Guillaud studied at the lycée Hector Berlioz in Vincennes and at the Ecole Sainte Geneviève in Versailles
. He joined the École navale
in 1973.
In the early 80s, Guillaud was sent in exchange in the USA. He then served on the aviso Amyot d'Inville and the T 47 class destroyer
s Du Chayla and Kersaint, cruising off Iran and Lebanon in 1983.
From 1984 to 1987, he worked on the nuclear aircraft carrier programme, particularly on expert system
s in the computer environment of the ship. He was promoted to capitaine de corvette in 1985.
Dumont d'Urville for one year, taking part in the operations surrounding the Ouvéa cave hostage taking
.
Guillaud went on to study at the École supérieure de guerre navale and at the cours supérieur interarmées, rising to capitaine de frégate in 1989. He specialised in nuclear engineering, obtaining a degree in 1990.
In 1991, with the start of the Gulf War
, Guillaud was sent on the Clemenceau, where he served as a manoeuver officer.
In 1992, he took command of the light escort Enseigne de vaisseau Henry (F749). In 1993, he re-integrated the design team for the nuclear carrier. Guillaud was promoted to capitaine de vaisseau in 1996. The next year, he took the position of second officer on the Charles De Gaulle, then being completed in Brest.
From 1999 to 2001, Guillaud captained the nuclear carrier Charles De Gaulle, supervising her trials and fittings. The next year, he studied at the Centre des hautes études militaires and at the Institut des hautes études de Défense nationale
.
Between 2004 and 2006, Guillaud was préfet maritime
for the English Channel and the Northern Sea. He was promoted to vice-amiral on 1 April 2006. The same year, he was called by Jacques Chirac
to take on the position of Chief of the Military Staff of the President of the Republic
, replacing General Georgelin
; Guillaud took the office on 4 October, and was confirmed in this role in May 2007 after the election of Nicolas Sarkozy
. In December 2007, was promoted to admiral.
Guillaud has taken office as Chief of the Defence Staff
on 25 February 2010.
Since 19 March 2011, he has commanded the French forces enforcing the Libyan no-fly zone.
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:...
. Guillaud assumed his current assignment on 25 February 2010.
Early life
Édouard Guillaud was born to the family of Jean-Louis Guillaud, former president of AFP and TF1TF1
TF1 is a national French TV channel, controlled by TF1 Group, whose major share-holder is Bouygues. TF1's average market share of 24% makes it the most popular domestic network...
.
Édouard Guillaud studied at the lycée Hector Berlioz in Vincennes and at the Ecole Sainte Geneviève in Versailles
Versailles
Versailles , a city renowned for its château, the Palace of Versailles, was the de facto capital of the kingdom of France for over a century, from 1682 to 1789. It is now a wealthy suburb of Paris and remains an important administrative and judicial centre...
. He joined the École navale
École Navale
The École Navale is the French Naval Academy in charge of the education of the officers of the French Navy.The academy was founded in 1830 by the order of King Louis-Philippe...
in 1973.
Junior officer
Upon graduation, in 1978, he served on the escort Paimpolaise, monitoring the nuclear trials in Mururoa, and on the SNLE Indomptable and on the Redoutable. In 1979, Guillaud took command of the minesweeped Lobelia, for one year. The next year, he studied for a specialisation in gunnery and missiles.In the early 80s, Guillaud was sent in exchange in the USA. He then served on the aviso Amyot d'Inville and the T 47 class destroyer
T 47 class destroyer
The T 47 class were the first destroyers built for the French Navy after the Second World War. Twelve ships were built between 1955 and 1957. The ships were modernised in the 1960s and decommissioned in the 1980s when they were replaced by Georges Leygues-class frigatesThese ships were larger than...
s Du Chayla and Kersaint, cruising off Iran and Lebanon in 1983.
From 1984 to 1987, he worked on the nuclear aircraft carrier programme, particularly on expert system
Expert system
In artificial intelligence, an expert system is a computer system that emulates the decision-making ability of a human expert. Expert systems are designed to solve complex problems by reasoning about knowledge, like an expert, and not by following the procedure of a developer as is the case in...
s in the computer environment of the ship. He was promoted to capitaine de corvette in 1985.
Senior officer
In 1987, he took command of the BATRALBATRAL
The Bâtiment de Transport Léger are small landing ships of the French Navy. They are able to ferry over 400 tons of matériel, in the hangar and on the deck. Loading and unloading can be done from a harbour or from a beach. Two flat-bottom vessels allow unloading 50 men and light vehicles each...
Dumont d'Urville for one year, taking part in the operations surrounding the Ouvéa cave hostage taking
Ouvéa cave hostage taking
The Ouvéa cave hostage taking was an event occurring from April 22, 1988 to May 5, 1988 in which members of the separatist group the National Union for Independence-Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front took 27 including a French gendarme and a judge hostage in the island of Ouvéa, New...
.
Guillaud went on to study at the École supérieure de guerre navale and at the cours supérieur interarmées, rising to capitaine de frégate in 1989. He specialised in nuclear engineering, obtaining a degree in 1990.
In 1991, with the start of the Gulf War
Gulf War
The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
, Guillaud was sent on the Clemenceau, where he served as a manoeuver officer.
In 1992, he took command of the light escort Enseigne de vaisseau Henry (F749). In 1993, he re-integrated the design team for the nuclear carrier. Guillaud was promoted to capitaine de vaisseau in 1996. The next year, he took the position of second officer on the Charles De Gaulle, then being completed in Brest.
From 1999 to 2001, Guillaud captained the nuclear carrier Charles De Gaulle, supervising her trials and fittings. The next year, he studied at the Centre des hautes études militaires and at the Institut des hautes études de Défense nationale
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...
.
Admiral
From 2002 to 2004, he served as the naval aid to the chief of the personal staff of the President of the Republic.Between 2004 and 2006, Guillaud was préfet maritime
Préfet Maritime
The Préfet Maritime is a servant of the French State who exercises authority over the sea in one particular region . As a civil servant, he reports to the Prime Minister...
for the English Channel and the Northern Sea. He was promoted to vice-amiral on 1 April 2006. The same year, he was called by 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...
to take on the position of Chief of the Military Staff of the President of the Republic
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....
, replacing General Georgelin
Jean-Louis Georgelin
Jean-Louis Georgelin is an Army General . Great Chancellor of the French national order of the Legion of honnor from the 9 June 2010...
; Guillaud took the office on 4 October, and was confirmed in this role in May 2007 after the election of Nicolas Sarkozy
Nicolas Sarkozy
Nicolas Sarkozy is the 23rd and current President of the French Republic and ex officio Co-Prince of Andorra. He assumed the office on 16 May 2007 after defeating the Socialist Party candidate Ségolène Royal 10 days earlier....
. In December 2007, was promoted to admiral.
Guillaud has taken office as 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:...
on 25 February 2010.
Since 19 March 2011, he has commanded the French forces enforcing the Libyan no-fly zone.
Decorations and badges
| Ribbons | French decorations |
|---|---|
 |
Great Officer of the Legion of honour, |
 |
Officer of the Order of Merit Order of Merit The Order of Merit is a British dynastic order recognising distinguished service in the armed forces, science, art, literature, or for the promotion of culture... |
| Officer of the Ordre du Mérite Maritime Ordre du Mérite Maritime The Ordre du Mérite Maritime is a French order established on 9 February 1930 for services rendered by the seafarers to distinguish the risks involved and the services rendered by seamen; stressed over the importance of the economic role of the Merchant Navy to the country... |
|
_ribbon.svg.png) |
Médaille d'Outre-Mer |
 |
Médaille de la Défense nationale Médaille de la Défense nationale The Médaille de la Défense nationale is a French military decoration. It was created by Charles Hernu, Minister of Defense and established by the decree of April 21, 1982. It rewards particularly honorable service rendered to the military for their participation in operational activities... échelon bronze |
_ribbon.svg.png) |
Médaille de reconnaissance de la Nation Médaille de reconnaissance de la Nation The Medaille de Reconnaissance de la Nation is a French honor medal created 12 April 2002 awarded to both the military and civilians.-Eligibility:... |
 |
Croix du Mérite de l'ordre de Malte |