20231220_Vocabulaire militaire français-anglais.pdf — page 148

Page 148 
Deputy Director March 2004 - 
 
FRENCH AIR FORCE 
GENERAL DE BRIGADE AERIENNE MARTIAL IMBERTI 
 
Brigadier General Martial IMBERTI was born on 5th August 1952 at Troyes. 
He entered the French Air Force Academy at Salon de Provence in 
September 1972, and gained his fighter pilot wings in 1976.  
Posted to Luxeuil Air Force base, he gained his first operational experience 
flying the Mirage III E aircraft in the Lafayette squadron, and became Flight 
Commander in 1981. 
In 1983, as 1st solo in the French aerobatic team, “la Patrouille de France”, 
he represented France and the French Air Force with aerobatic displays over 
Europe. Commandant Martial IMBERTI was appointed commander and 
leader of this well known flying unit in 1984. 
In 1985 he joined the “Normandie-Niemen” squadron, flying the Mirage F1 
jet fighter and taking part in an operational commitment in Chad. He became 
commander of the squadron in 1986. 
He was posted to the 2nd Fighter Wing at Dijon Air Force base in May 1987. The Wing was equipped with the 
Mirage 2000C, Air Defence aircraft. Lieutenant Colonel IMBERTI performed the duties of Chief of Operations, 
and Commander of the 2nd Fighter Wing. During this time, he led the Mirage 2000C presentation team to help 
promote export sales in the Middle East and in Asia.  
In 1990 he was selected to attend the Air Warfare and Joint Defence College, and moved to Metz as Chief of 
Plans and Programs at the French Combat Air Force. There, he participated in two Red Flag exercises and in 
further international air shows. In addition, he participated to NATO air staff in Italy in charge of air operations in 
the Balkans. Then he commanded the French air forces during the Operation “Turquoise“, which played a key 
role in the operatios and the delivery of humanitarian relief following the conflict in Rwanda in 1994. Due to his 
experience and knowledge of operations in Africa, in 1995 he was given command of the French air base in 
Djibouti for two years. 
After a very successful operational career, Colonel IMBERTI attended the Institute of Advanced Studies for 
Defence in Paris, and completed a variety of high level staff and command posts. In 1998, he was entrusted with 
the post of Chief of Staff of “l’Inspection Générale des Armées Air“ depending on the Minister of Defence. 
 On 1st July 2000, he was promoted to Brigadier General, and appointed Chief of Division within the Department 
of International Affairs in the Joint Defence Staff in Paris. In October 2001, he attended the NATO General Flag 
Officer Course in Rome and Brussels. He represented the French Ministry of Defence on Afghanistan security 
during the G8 Geneva and Paris summits in 2002. 
Brigadier General IMBERTI was appointed Deputy Commander of the Air Defence and Air Operations 
Command at Taverny on 1st September 2002. As such, he was the French representative to the NATO Air 
Defence Committee and the NATO ACCS Management Organisation (NACMO) Board. He also represented the 
French Air Force on the management Committee of the 2003 Paris Air Show. 
He was appointed Deputy Director of the European Air Group on 1st April 2004, RAF High Wycombe, and 
attended the NATO Senior Officers Policy Course in 2005. 
Brigadier General IMBERTI is an Officier of "la Légion d'Honneur", Commander of "l'Ordre national du mérite", 
holder of "la médaille de l'Aéronautique" and of "La Croix de la valeur militaire". 
He has 5200 hours of flying experience of which 3800 are in fighter aircraft of various types. His combat 
experience includes 40 war missions. 
Martial IMBERTI is married to Sophie. They have six children and four grandchildren.  
Source : http://www.euroairgroup.org/deputy_cv.htm