The Chief of the Army Staff (, CEMAT) is the military head of the French Army.Defence Code – Article R3222–3 § 2 The chief directs the army staff and acts as the principal advisor to the Chief of the Defence Staff on subjects concerning the Army.Defence Code – Article R*3121–25 § 1 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.Defence Code – Article R*3121–25 § 2 Special responsibilities can be assigned to them in relation to nuclear safety.Defence Code – Article R*3121–25 § 3
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 Jacques Langlade de Montgros is the current chief and has been serving since July 2026.
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 Portrait Rank & Name Term Minister Commander-in-Chief Ref. Took office Left office Duration 1 Brigade general Ernest de CisseyFrançois du Barail Adolphe Thiers - 2 Division general François du BarailErnest de Cissey Patrice de MacMahon - 3 Division general Ernest de CisseyJean BerthautGaëtan de Rochebouët - 4 Division general Gaëtan de RochebouëtJean-Louis BorelHenri Gresley - 5 Division general Henri GresleyJean-Joseph Farre Jules Grévy - 6 Division general Jean-Joseph FarreJean-Baptiste Campenon - 7 Division general Jean-Baptiste CampenonJean-Baptiste Billot - 8 Division general Jean-Baptiste BillotJean ThibaudinJean-Baptiste CampenonJules Lewal - 9 Division general Jules LewalJean-Baptiste Campenon - 10 Division general Jean-Baptiste CampenonGeorges Boulanger - 11 Division general Georges Boulanger - 12 Division general Georges BoulangerThéophile Ferron - 13 Division general Théophile FerronFrançois LogerotCharles de Freycinet Sadi Carnot - 14 Division general Charles de FreycinetJulien Léon Loizillon 15 Division general Julien LoizillonAuguste Mercier[...]Jean-Baptiste BillotJacques Cavaignac Jean Casimir-Perier Félix Faure 16 Division general Jacques CavaignacCharles ChanoineÉdouard LocroyCharles de Freycinet - 17 Division general Charles de FreycinetCamille KrantzGaston de Galliffet Émile Loubet 18 Brigade general Gaston de GalliffetLouis André - 19 Division general Louis AndréMaurice Berteaux 20 Division general Maurice BerteauxEugène ÉtienneGeorges PicquartJean Brun Armand Fallières 21 Division general Jean BrunAristide BriandMaurice BerteauxFrançois Goiran 22 Division general François GoiranAdolphe Messimy 23 Division general Adolphe MessimyAlexandre Millerand[...]Pierre RoquesHubert Lyautey Raymond Poincaré 24 Division general Hubert LyauteyLucien LacazePaul Painlevé - 25 Division general Paul Painlevé - 26 Division general Paul PainlevéGeorges Clemenceau - 27 Division general Georges ClemenceauAndré Lefèvre - 28 Division general André LefèvreFlaminius RaibertiLouis BarthouAndré Maginot Paul Deschanel Alexandre Millerand 29 Division general André MaginotCharles Nollet[...]Paul PainlevéAndré Maginot - Gaston Doumergue 30 Division general André MaginotLouis BarthouAndré Maginot - 31 Division general André MaginotAndré Tardieu[...]Louis MaurinÉdouard Daladier Paul Doumer Albert Lebrun
Fourth Republic Portrait Rank & Name Term Minister Commander-in-Chief Ref. Took office Left office Duration 32 Army general Edmond MicheletFélix GouinGeorges BidaultFrançois Billoux Charles de Gaulle - Félix Gouin Georges Bidault Vincent Auriol 33 Corps general François BillouxYvon Delbos[...]Paul RamadierRené Pleven 34 Corps general René PlevenJules Moch[...]Jacques ChevallierMarie-Pierre Kœnig - René Coty 35 Army general Marie-Pierre KœnigPierre BillotteMaurice Bourgès-Maunoury - 36 Corps general Maurice Bourgès-Maunoury - 37 Corps general Maurice Bourgès-MaunouryAndré MoriceJacques Chaban-DelmasPierre de ChevignéCharles de Gaulle -
Fifth Republic Portrait Rank & Name Term Minister Commander-in-Chief Ref. Took office Left office Duration 38 Army general Charles de GaullePierre Guillaumat René Coty JORF #154 - P6178- 2 July 1958- Charles de Gaulle 39 Army general Pierre GuillaumatPierre Messmer - 40 Army general Pierre Messmer - 41 Army general Pierre MessmerMichel Debré - Georges Pompidou 42 Army general Michel DebréRobert GalleyJacques SouffletYvon Bourges Valéry Giscard d'Estaing 43 Army general Yvon BourgesJoël Le Theule - 44 Army general Robert GalleyCharles Hernu François Mitterrand 45 Army general Charles Hernu 46 Army general Paul QuilèsAndré Giraud 47 Army general André GiraudJean-Pierre ChevènementPierre Joxe 48 Army general Pierre BérégovoyFrançois LéotardCharles Millon Jacques Chirac 49 Army general Charles MillonAlain Richard - 50 Army general Alain RichardMichèle Alliot-Marie 51 Army general Michèle Alliot-Marie 52 Army general Michèle Alliot-MarieHervé Morin Nicolas Sarkozy 53 Army general Hervé MorinAlain JuppéGérard Longuet 54 Army general Gérard LonguetJean-Yves Le Drian - François Hollande 55 Army general Jean-Yves Le DrianSylvie GoulardFlorence Parly - Emmanuel Macron 56 Army general Florence Parly 57 Army general Florence ParlySébastien Lecornu -
See also Chief of the Defence Staff Chief of Staff of the Air Force Chief of Staff of the Navy Special Operations Command Directorate General of the National Gendarmerie
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