# Chief of Staff of the French Army

The Chief of the Army Staff (French: Chef d'état-major de l'armée de terre, CEMAT) is the military head of the French Army. The chief directs the army staff and acts as the principal advisor to the Chief of the Defence Staff on subjects concerning the Army. As such, they ensure the operational preparedness of their service branch, express their need for military and civilian personnel, and are responsible for maintaining the discipline, morale and conduct of their troops. Special responsibilities can be assigned to them in relation to nuclear safety.
The chief does not have a fixed term, nor an attached rank. In practice, however, a term has never exceeded five years and all chiefs since the late 1950s have been five–stars generals (OF–09). They are assisted in their duties by the Major General of the Army who will deputise if needed.
General Pierre Schill is the current chief and has been serving since 22 July 2021.

## History
### Creation

The office was originally created on 8 June 1871 as Chief of the General Staff of the Army. Following the fall of the Second French Empire, the central administration of the Ministry of War was reorganized. The Chief of Staff had full control of the operations of the army, military engineering services, military justice, and general resources such as the historic and geographic departments. The Chief reported directly to the Minister of War.
However, under some governments, the position was given a lesser importance and was attributed to a Général de brigade, the lowest of the two flag officer ranks existing at the time in the French Army. In normal circumstances, it was filled by a Général de division.

### First World War

In times of war, the Chief of Staff of the French Army took charge of general headquarters (Grand Quartier Général (1914–1919) (GQG)). During the First World War, the leader of the French Armies was variously referred to as generalissimo or commander-in-chief. In the closing years of the First World War I, the establishment of the Supreme War Council in 1917 led to overall command being held by General Ferdinand Foch, and by mid-1918 French Army Chief Philippe Pétain was subordinate to Foch. Although the war ended with the armistice in November 1918, the war-time organisation persisted until 1920.

### Interwar

During the interwar period, command of the French Army was divided between the vice president of the Superior War Council and the chief of the general staff of the Armies. Marshal Philippe Pétain was vice president from 1920 to 1931, when he was replaced by General Weygand. After Weygand retired in 1935 he was succeeded by Gamelin who held the two positions simultaneously.

### Second World War

The position was abolished during the Battle of France and not reestablished until the end of the war.

### Postwar

The modern-day office of Chief of Staff of the Army was created in 1951. The Chief is placed under the authority of the Chief of the Defence Staff and is member of the Chiefs of Staff committee.

## Office holders
### Third Republic

| No. | Portrait | Rank & Name | Term | Term | Term | Minister | Commander-in-Chief | Ref. |
| No. | Portrait | Rank & Name | Took office | Left office | Duration | Minister | Commander-in-Chief | Ref. |
| Office established |||||||||
| 1 | | Brigade general Edmond Hartung | 9 June 1871 | 2 June 1873 | 1 year, 358 days | Ernest de Cissey François du Barail | Adolphe Thiers | - |
| 2 | | Division general Jean-Louis Borel | 2 June 1873 | 2 June 1874 | 1 year, 0 days | François du Barail Ernest de Cissey | Patrice de MacMahon | - |
| 3 | | Division general Henri Gresley | 2 June 1874 | 29 November 1877 | 3 years, 180 days | Ernest de Cissey Jean Berthaut Gaëtan de Rochebouët | Patrice de MacMahon | - |
| 4 | | Division general Joseph de Miribel | 29 November 1877 | 25 January 1879 | 1 year, 57 days | Gaëtan de Rochebouët Jean-Louis Borel Henri Gresley | Patrice de MacMahon | - |
| 5 | | Division general Léopold Davout | 25 January 1879 | 11 January 1880 | 351 days | Henri Gresley Jean-Joseph Farre | Jules Grévy | - |
| 6 | | Division general Omer Blot | 11 January 1880 | 16 November 1881 | 1 year, 309 days | Jean-Joseph Farre Jean-Baptiste Campenon | Jules Grévy | - |
| 7 | | Division general Joseph de Miribel | 16 November 1881 | 18 February 1882 | 94 days | Jean-Baptiste Campenon Jean-Baptiste Billot | Jules Grévy | - |
| 8 | | Division general Achile Vuillemot | 18 February 1882 | 5 January 1885 | 2 years, 322 days | Jean-Baptiste Billot Jean Thibaudin Jean-Baptiste Campenon Jules Lewal | Jules Grévy | - |
| 9 | | Division general Charles Warnet | 5 January 1885 | 9 April 1885 | 94 days | Jules Lewal Jean-Baptiste Campenon | Jules Grévy | - |
| 10 | | Division general Amédée de Cools | 9 April 1885 | 10 January 1886 | 276 days | Jean-Baptiste Campenon Georges Boulanger | Jules Grévy | - |
| 11 | | Division general Eugène Galland | 10 January 1886 | 14 January 1886 | 4 days | Georges Boulanger | Jules Grévy | - |
| 12 | | Division general Savin de Larclause | 14 January 1886 | 6 July 1887 | 1 year, 173 days | Georges Boulanger Théophile Ferron | Jules Grévy | - |
| 13 | | Division general Charles Haillot | 6 July 1887 | 7 May 1890 | 2 years, 305 days | Théophile Ferron François Logerot Charles de Freycinet | Sadi Carnot | - |
| 14 | | Division general Joseph de Miribel | 7 May 1890 | 29 September 1893 | 3 years, 145 days | Charles de Freycinet Julien Léon Loizillon | Sadi Carnot | [26] [27] |
| 15 | | Division general Raoul de Boisdeffre | 29 September 1893 | 3 September 1898 | 4 years, 339 days | Julien Loizillon Auguste Mercier [...] Jean-Baptiste Billot Jacques Cavaignac | Sadi Carnot | [28] [27] |
| 15 | | Division general Raoul de Boisdeffre | 29 September 1893 | 3 September 1898 | 4 years, 339 days | Julien Loizillon Auguste Mercier [...] Jean-Baptiste Billot Jacques Cavaignac | Jean Casimir-Perier | [28] [27] |
| 15 | | Division general Raoul de Boisdeffre | 29 September 1893 | 3 September 1898 | 4 years, 339 days | Julien Loizillon Auguste Mercier [...] Jean-Baptiste Billot Jacques Cavaignac | Félix Faure | [28] [27] |
| 16 | | Division general Jean Renouard | 3 September 1898 | 5 November 1898 | 63 days | Jacques Cavaignac Charles Chanoine Édouard Locroy Charles de Freycinet | Félix Faure | - |
| 17 | | Division general Paul Brault | 5 November 1898 | 27 September 1899† | 326 days | Charles de Freycinet Camille Krantz Gaston de Galliffet | Félix Faure | [30] [27] |
| 17 | | Division general Paul Brault | 5 November 1898 | 27 September 1899† | 326 days | Charles de Freycinet Camille Krantz Gaston de Galliffet | Émile Loubet | [30] [27] |
| 18 | | Brigade general Alfred Delanne | 27 September 1899 | 5 July 1900 | 281 days | Gaston de Galliffet Louis André | Émile Loubet | - |
| 19 | | Division general Jean Pendézec | 5 July 1900 | 2 August 1905 | 5 years, 28 days | Louis André Maurice Berteaux | Émile Loubet | [32] [27] |
| 20 | | Division general Jean Brun | 2 August 1905 | 5 August 1909 | 4 years, 3 days | Maurice Berteaux Eugène Étienne Georges Picquart Jean Brun | Émile Loubet | [33] [27] |
| 20 | | Division general Jean Brun | 2 August 1905 | 5 August 1909 | 4 years, 3 days | Maurice Berteaux Eugène Étienne Georges Picquart Jean Brun | Armand Fallières | [33] [27] |
| 21 | | Division general Édouard de Ladébat | 5 August 1909 | 31 May 1911 | 1 year, 299 days | Jean Brun Aristide Briand Maurice Berteaux François Goiran | Armand Fallières | [34] [27] |
| 22 | | Division general Augustin Dubail | 31 May 1911 | 29 July 1911 | 59 days | François Goiran Adolphe Messimy | Armand Fallières | [35] [27] |
| 23 | | Division general Joseph Joffre | 29 July 1911 | 14 December 1916 | 5 years, 138 days | Adolphe Messimy Alexandre Millerand [...] Pierre Roques Hubert Lyautey | Armand Fallières | [36] [37] |
| 23 | | Division general Joseph Joffre | 29 July 1911 | 14 December 1916 | 5 years, 138 days | Adolphe Messimy Alexandre Millerand [...] Pierre Roques Hubert Lyautey | Raymond Poincaré | [36] [37] |
| 24 | | Division general Robert Nivelle | 14 December 1916 | 30 April 1917 | 137 days | Hubert Lyautey Lucien Lacaze Paul Painlevé | Raymond Poincaré | - |
| 25 | | Division general Philippe Pétain | 30 April 1917 | 16 May 1917 | 16 days | Paul Painlevé | Raymond Poincaré | - |
| 26 | | Division general Ferdinand Foch | 16 May 1917 | 29 December 1918 | 1 year, 227 days | Paul Painlevé Georges Clemenceau | Raymond Poincaré | - |
| 27 | | Division general Henri Alby | 29 December 1918 | 25 January 1920 | 1 year, 27 days | Georges Clemenceau André Lefèvre | Raymond Poincaré | - |
| 28 | | Division general Edmond Buat | 25 January 1920 | 30 December 1923† | 3 years, 339 days | André Lefèvre Flaminius Raiberti Louis Barthou André Maginot | Paul Deschanel | [42] [43] |
| 28 | | Division general Edmond Buat | 25 January 1920 | 30 December 1923† | 3 years, 339 days | André Lefèvre Flaminius Raiberti Louis Barthou André Maginot | Alexandre Millerand | [42] [43] |
| 29 | | Division general Eugène Debeney | 9 January 1924 | 3 January 1930 | 5 years, 359 days | André Maginot Charles Nollet [...] Paul Painlevé André Maginot | Alexandre Millerand | - |
| 29 | | Division general Eugène Debeney | 9 January 1924 | 3 January 1930 | 5 years, 359 days | André Maginot Charles Nollet [...] Paul Painlevé André Maginot | Gaston Doumergue | - |
| 30 | | Division general Maxime Weygand | 3 January 1930 | 10 February 1931 | 1 year, 38 days | André Maginot Louis Barthou André Maginot | Gaston Doumergue | - |
| 31 | | Division general Maurice Gamelin | 10 February 1931 | 20 May 1940 | 9 years, 100 days | André Maginot André Tardieu [...] Louis Maurin Édouard Daladier | Gaston Doumergue | [46] [47] |
| 31 | | Division general Maurice Gamelin | 10 February 1931 | 20 May 1940 | 9 years, 100 days | André Maginot André Tardieu [...] Louis Maurin Édouard Daladier | Paul Doumer | [46] [47] |
| 31 | | Division general Maurice Gamelin | 10 February 1931 | 20 May 1940 | 9 years, 100 days | André Maginot André Tardieu [...] Louis Maurin Édouard Daladier | Albert Lebrun | [46] [47] |
| Office disestablished (1940–1945) |||||||||

### Fourth Republic

| No. | Portrait | Rank & Name | Term | Term | Term | Minister | Commander-in-Chief | Ref. |
| No. | Portrait | Rank & Name | Took office | Left office | Duration | Minister | Commander-in-Chief | Ref. |
| Office reestablished |||||||||
| 32 | | Army general Jean de Lattre | 30 November 1945 | 12 March 1947 | 1 year, 102 days | Edmond Michelet Félix Gouin Georges Bidault François Billoux | Charles de Gaulle | - |
| 32 | | Army general Jean de Lattre | 30 November 1945 | 12 March 1947 | 1 year, 102 days | Edmond Michelet Félix Gouin Georges Bidault François Billoux | Félix Gouin | - |
| 32 | | Army general Jean de Lattre | 30 November 1945 | 12 March 1947 | 1 year, 102 days | Edmond Michelet Félix Gouin Georges Bidault François Billoux | Georges Bidault | - |
| 32 | | Army general Jean de Lattre | 30 November 1945 | 12 March 1947 | 1 year, 102 days | Edmond Michelet Félix Gouin Georges Bidault François Billoux | Vincent Auriol | - |
| 33 | | Corps general Georges Revers | 12 March 1947 | 15 December 1949 | 2 years, 278 days | François Billoux Yvon Delbos [...] Paul Ramadier René Pleven | Vincent Auriol | [49] [50] |
| 34 | | Corps general Clément Blanc | 15 December 1949 | 16 June 1955 | 5 years, 183 days | René Pleven Jules Moch [...] Jacques Chevallier Marie-Pierre Kœnig | Vincent Auriol | - |
| 34 | | Corps general Clément Blanc | 15 December 1949 | 16 June 1955 | 5 years, 183 days | René Pleven Jules Moch [...] Jacques Chevallier Marie-Pierre Kœnig | René Coty | - |
| 35 | | Army general André Zeller | 16 June 1955 | 2 March 1956 | 260 days | Marie-Pierre Kœnig Pierre Billotte Maurice Bourgès-Maunoury | René Coty | - |
| 36 | | Corps general Jean Piatte | 2 March 1956 | 11 November 1956 | 254 days | Maurice Bourgès-Maunoury | René Coty | - |
| 37 | | Corps general Henri Lorillot | 11 November 1956 | 2 July 1958 | 1 year, 233 days | Maurice Bourgès-Maunoury André Morice Jacques Chaban-Delmas Pierre de Chevigné Charles de Gaulle | René Coty | - |

### Fifth Republic

| No. | Portrait | Rank & Name | Term | Term | Term | Minister | Commander-in-Chief | Ref. |
| No. | Portrait | Rank & Name | Took office | Left office | Duration | Minister | Commander-in-Chief | Ref. |
| 38 | | Army general André Zeller | 2 July 1958 | 1 October 1959 | 1 year, 91 days | Charles de Gaulle Pierre Guillaumat | René Coty | - |
| 38 | | Army general André Zeller | 2 July 1958 | 1 October 1959 | 1 year, 91 days | Charles de Gaulle Pierre Guillaumat | Charles de Gaulle | - |
| 39 | | Army general André Demetz | 1 October 1959 | 18 July 1962 | 2 years, 290 days | Pierre Guillaumat Pierre Messmer | Charles de Gaulle | - |
| 40 | | Army general Louis Le Puloch | 18 July 1962 | 3 April 1965 | 2 years, 260 days | Pierre Messmer | Charles de Gaulle | - |
| 41 | | Army general Émile Cantarel | 3 April 1965 | 1 May 1971 | 6 years, 28 days | Pierre Messmer Michel Debré | Charles de Gaulle | - |
| 41 | | Army general Émile Cantarel | 3 April 1965 | 1 May 1971 | 6 years, 28 days | Pierre Messmer Michel Debré | Georges Pompidou | - |
| 42 | | Army general Alain de Boissieu | 1 May 1971 | 1 April 1975 | 3 years, 335 days | Michel Debré Robert Galley Jacques Soufflet Yvon Bourges | Georges Pompidou | [59] [60] |
| 42 | | Army general Alain de Boissieu | 1 May 1971 | 1 April 1975 | 3 years, 335 days | Michel Debré Robert Galley Jacques Soufflet Yvon Bourges | Valéry Giscard d'Estaing | [59] [60] |
| 43 | | Army general Jean Lagarde | 1 April 1975 | 1 October 1980 | 5 years, 183 days | Yvon Bourges Joël Le Theule | Valéry Giscard d'Estaing | - |
| 44 | | Army general Jean Delaunay | 1 October 1980 | 10 March 1983 | 2 years, 160 days | Robert Galley Charles Hernu | Valéry Giscard d'Estaing | [62] [63] |
| 44 | | Army general Jean Delaunay | 1 October 1980 | 10 March 1983 | 2 years, 160 days | Robert Galley Charles Hernu | François Mitterrand | [62] [63] |
| 45 | | Army general René Imbot | 10 March 1983 | 25 September 1985 | 2 years, 199 days | Charles Hernu | François Mitterrand | [64] [65] |
| 46 | | Army general Maurice Schmitt | 25 September 1985 | 16 November 1987 | 2 years, 52 days | Paul Quilès André Giraud | François Mitterrand | [66] [67] |
| 47 | | Army general Gilbert Forray | 16 November 1987 | 17 April 1991 | 3 years, 152 days | André Giraud Jean-Pierre Chevènement Pierre Joxe | François Mitterrand | [68] [69] |
| 48 | | Army general Marc Monchal | 17 April 1991 | 28 August 1996 | 5 years, 133 days | Pierre Bérégovoy François Léotard Charles Millon | François Mitterrand | [70] [71] |
| 48 | | Army general Marc Monchal | 17 April 1991 | 28 August 1996 | 5 years, 133 days | Pierre Bérégovoy François Léotard Charles Millon | Jacques Chirac | [70] [71] |
| 49 | | Army general Philippe Mercier | 28 August 1996 | 21 January 1999 | 2 years, 146 days | Charles Millon Alain Richard | Jacques Chirac | - |
| 50 | | Army general Yves Crène | 21 January 1999 | 1 September 2002 | 3 years, 223 days | Alain Richard Michèle Alliot-Marie | Jacques Chirac | [73] [74] |
| 51 | | Army general Bernard Thorette | 1 September 2002 | 16 July 2006 | 3 years, 318 days | Michèle Alliot-Marie | Jacques Chirac | [75] [76] |
| 52 | | Army general Bruno Cuche | 16 July 2006 | 3 July 2008 | 1 year, 353 days | Michèle Alliot-Marie Hervé Morin | Jacques Chirac | [77] [78] |
| 52 | | Army general Bruno Cuche | 16 July 2006 | 3 July 2008 | 1 year, 353 days | Michèle Alliot-Marie Hervé Morin | Nicolas Sarkozy | [77] [78] |
| 53 | | Army general Elrick Irastorza | 3 July 2008 | 1 September 2011 | 3 years, 60 days | Hervé Morin Alain Juppé Gérard Longuet | Nicolas Sarkozy | [79] [80] |
| 54 | | Army general Bertrand Ract-Madoux | 1 September 2011 | 1 September 2014 | 3 years, 0 days | Gérard Longuet Jean-Yves Le Drian | Nicolas Sarkozy | - |
| 54 | | Army general Bertrand Ract-Madoux | 1 September 2011 | 1 September 2014 | 3 years, 0 days | Gérard Longuet Jean-Yves Le Drian | François Hollande | - |
| 55 | | Army general Jean-Pierre Bosser | 1 September 2014 | 31 July 2019 | 4 years, 333 days | Jean-Yves Le Drian Sylvie Goulard Florence Parly | François Hollande | - |
| 55 | | Army general Jean-Pierre Bosser | 1 September 2014 | 31 July 2019 | 4 years, 333 days | Jean-Yves Le Drian Sylvie Goulard Florence Parly | Emmanuel Macron | - |
| 56 | | Army general Thierry Burkhard | 31 July 2019 | 22 July 2021 | 1 year, 356 days | Florence Parly | Emmanuel Macron | [83] [84] |
| 57 | | Army general Pierre Schill | 22 July 2021 | Incumbent | 3 years, 216 days | Florence Parly | Emmanuel Macron | - |