# Major General of the Defence Staff (France)

The Major General of the Defence Staff (French: Major Général des Armées, lit. 'Major General of the Armies', acronym: M.G.A.) is a high ranking general officer of the French Armed Forces and the deputy to the Chief of the Defence Staff. As such, it is the second highest position in the armed forces. Major Generals are nominated by the Minister of the Armed Forces and appointed by the Commander-in-Chief, the President of the French Republic. The designation of Major General is not indicative of any rank but is rather a position, as the most recent office holders were all four star generals (OF-9).

## History

The office was established on 28 April 1948, during the reorganization of the French higher hierarchy.

## Duties

The major general leads the Defence Staff and is assisted by three general officers: the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations (OPS), the Deputy Chief of Staff for Planning (PLANS) and the Deputy Chief of Staff for Performance (PERF).
They replace the chief of staff when necessary. As a flag officer, they are the commanding officer of the Site of Balard, headquarters of the French Armed Forces and the Ministry of the Armed Forces.

## Office holders

| No. | Portrait | Rank & Name | Term | Term | Term | Branch | Minister | Commander-in-Chief | Ref. |
| No. | Portrait | Rank & Name | Took office | Left office | Duration | Branch | Minister | Commander-in-Chief | Ref. |
| Office established ||||||||||
| 1 | | Division general Henri Zeller | 29 April 1948 | 8 July 1949 | 1 year, 70 days | Army | Pierre-Henri Teitgen René Mayer Paul Ramadier | Vincent Auriol | - |
| 2 | | Air brigade general Raoul Vernoux | 8 July 1949 | 11 May 1954 | 4 years, 307 days | Air Force | Paul Ramadier René Pleven Jules Moch Georges Bidault René Pleven | Vincent Auriol | - |
| 2 | | Air brigade general Raoul Vernoux | 8 July 1949 | 11 May 1954 | 4 years, 307 days | Air Force | Paul Ramadier René Pleven Jules Moch Georges Bidault René Pleven | René Coty | - |
| 3 | | Division general Raymond Baillif | 11 May 1954 | 20 October 1955 | 1 year, 162 days | Army | René Pleven Pierre Kœnig [...] Pierre Kœnig Pierre Billotte | René Coty | - |
| 4 | | Air division general Maurice Challe | 20 October 1955 | 8 October 1958 | 2 years, 351 days | Air Force | Pierre Billotte Maurice Bourgès-Maunoury [...] Pierre de Chevigné Pierre Guillaumat | René Coty | - |
| 5 | | Army general André Demetz | 8 October 1958 | 28 March 1959 | 171 days | Army | Pierre Guillaumat Pierre Messmer | René Coty | - |
| 5 | | Army general André Demetz | 8 October 1958 | 28 March 1959 | 171 days | Army | Pierre Guillaumat Pierre Messmer | Charles de Gaulle | - |
| 6 | | Air corps general Paul Stehlin | 28 March 1959 | 15 March 1960 | 353 days | Air Force | Pierre Messmer | Charles de Gaulle | - |
| | | Air corps general Michel Délaval | 1 May 1977 | 26 August 1979 | 2 years, 117 days | Air Force | ... | Valéry Giscard d'Estaing | - |
| | | Air corps general Jean-Paul Arbelet | 26 August 1979 | 1 October 1983 | 4 years, 36 days | Air Force | ... | Valéry Giscard d'Estaing | - |
| | | Air corps general Jean-Paul Arbelet | 26 August 1979 | 1 October 1983 | 4 years, 36 days | Air Force | ... | François Mitterrand | - |
| | | Squadron vice-admiral Jean-André Brusson | 1 October 1983 | 10 March 1985 | 1 year, 160 days | Navy | ... | François Mitterrand | - |
| | | Squadron vice-admiral Bernard Louzeau | 10 March 1985 | 30 January 1987 | 1 year, 326 days | Navy | ... | François Mitterrand | - |
| | | Squadron vice-admiral Alain Coatanea | 30 January 1987 | 20 November 1990 | 3 years, 294 days | Navy | André Giraud Jean-Pierre Chevènement | François Mitterrand | - |
| | | Division general Mary-Jean Voinot | 20 November 1990 | 1 October 1992 | 1 year, 316 days | Army | Jean-Pierre Chevènement Pierre Joxe | François Mitterrand | - |
| | | Air corps general Jean-Philippe Douin | 1 October 1992 | 15 June 1994 | 1 year, 257 days | Air Force | Pierre Joxe François Léotard | François Mitterrand | - |
| | | Air corps general Jean Rannou | 15 June 1994 | 1 September 1995 | 1 year, 78 days | Air Force | François Léotard Charles Millon | François Mitterrand | - |
| | | Air corps general Jean Rannou | 15 June 1994 | 1 September 1995 | 1 year, 78 days | Air Force | François Léotard Charles Millon | Jacques Chirac | - |
| | | Corps general Philippe Mercier | 1 September 1995 | 28 August 1996 | 362 days | Army | Charles Millon | Jacques Chirac | - |
| | | Air corps general Jean-Pierre Kelche | 28 August 1996 | 9 April 1998 | 1 year, 224 days | Air Force | Charles Millon Alain Richard | Jacques Chirac | - |
| | | Air corps general Jean-Pierre Job | 9 April 1998 | 1 September 1999 | 1 year, 145 days | Air Force | Alain Richard | Jacques Chirac | - |
| | | Air corps general Richard Wolsztynski | 1 September 1999 | 1 September 2002 | 3 years, 0 days | Air Force | Alain Richard Michèle Alliot-Marie | Jacques Chirac | - |
| | | Counter admiral Alain Coldefy | 1 September 2002 | 15 July 2005 | 2 years, 317 days | Navy | Michèle Alliot-Marie | Jacques Chirac | - |
| | | Admiral Hervé Le Riche | 15 July 2005 | 1 September 2007 | 2 years, 48 days | Navy | Michèle Alliot-Marie Hervé Morin | Jacques Chirac | - |
| | | Admiral Hervé Le Riche | 15 July 2005 | 1 September 2007 | 2 years, 48 days | Navy | Michèle Alliot-Marie Hervé Morin | Nicolas Sarkozy | - |
| | | Admiral Pierrick Blairon | 1 September 2007 | 12 March 2010 | 2 years, 192 days | Navy | Hervé Morin | Nicolas Sarkozy | - |
| | | Army general Pierre de Villiers | 12 March 2010 | 15 February 2014 | 3 years, 340 days | Army | Hervé Morin Alain Juppé Gérard Longuet Jean-Yves Le Drian | Nicolas Sarkozy | - |
| | | Army general Pierre de Villiers | 12 March 2010 | 15 February 2014 | 3 years, 340 days | Army | Hervé Morin Alain Juppé Gérard Longuet Jean-Yves Le Drian | François Hollande | - |
| | | Air army general Gratien Maire | 15 February 2014 | 1 September 2016 | 2 years, 199 days | Air Force | Jean-Yves Le Drian | François Hollande | - |
| | | Admiral Philippe Coindreau | 1 September 2016 | 1 September 2018 | 2 years, 0 days | Navy | Jean-Yves Le Drian Sylvie Goulard Florence Parly | François Hollande | - |
| | | Admiral Philippe Coindreau | 1 September 2016 | 1 September 2018 | 2 years, 0 days | Navy | Jean-Yves Le Drian Sylvie Goulard Florence Parly | Emmanuel Macron | - |
| | | Admiral Jean Casabianca | 1 September 2018 | Incumbent | 6 years, 63 days | Navy | Florence Parly | Emmanuel Macron | [26] [27] |