Jean-Louis Georgelin


Jean-Louis Georgelin is a French Army General who was Chief of the Defence Staff between 4 October 2006 and 25 February 2010. Since 9 June 2010, he has served as Great Chancellor of the French national order, the Légion d'honneur.

Biography

After nine years at the Prytanée National Militaire, Georgelin joined Saint-Cyr in 1967. As a lieutenant, he was Chef de Section at the École d'application de l'infanterie from 1975 to 1976, responsible for the training of non-commissioned officers. He served with the 153rd infantry regiment as a Captain.
As a "Commandant", he graduated from the United States Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth and then from the Institute of Higher National Defence Studies in Paris.
From 1985 to 1988, as a Lieutenant-colonel, he was in charge of a class at Saint-Cyr. 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 of President Jacques Chirac from 25 October 2002 to 4 October 2006. Promoted to général d'armée the 3d October 2003.
He was promoted to Chief of the Defence Staff by the ministerial council of 20 August 2006. He became the :fr:Liste des grands chanceliers de la Légion d'honneur|Great Chancellor of the French national order of the Legion of honor by the ministerial council of 9 June 2010.
On 17 April 2019 Georgelin was appointed as special representative to oversee the reconstruction of Notre-Dame-de-Paris after it was severely damaged by fire.

Honours