The Major General of the Defence Staff (, , 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 Portrait Rank & Name Term Branch Minister Commander-in-Chief Ref. Took office Left office Duration Office established 1 Division general Army Pierre-Henri TeitgenRené MayerPaul Ramadier Vincent Auriol - 2 Air brigade general Air Force Paul RamadierRené PlevenJules MochGeorges BidaultRené Pleven - René Coty 3 Division general Army René PlevenPierre Kœnig[...]Pierre KœnigPierre Billotte JORF #108 - P4405 - 11 May 1954- 4 Air division general Air Force Pierre BillotteMaurice Bourgès-Maunoury[...]Pierre de ChevignéPierre Guillaumat JORF #254 - P10608 - 27 October 1955- 5 Army general Army Pierre GuillaumatPierre Messmer JORF #236 - P9221 - 8 October 1958- Charles de Gaulle 6 Air corps general Air Force Pierre Messmer JORF #077 - P3828 - 2 April 1959- ... Air corps general Air Force ... Valéry Giscard d'Estaing - Air corps general Air Force ... - François Mitterrand Squadron vice-admiral Navy ... - Squadron vice-admiral Navy ... - Squadron vice-admiral Navy André GiraudJean-Pierre Chevènement - Division general Army Jean-Pierre ChevènementPierre Joxe - Air corps general Air Force Pierre JoxeFrançois Léotard - Air corps general Air Force François LéotardCharles Millon - Jacques Chirac Corps general Army Charles Millon - Air corps general Air Force Charles MillonAlain Richard - Air corps general Air Force Alain Richard - Air corps general Air Force Alain RichardMichèle Alliot-Marie - Counter admiral Navy Michèle Alliot-Marie - Admiral Navy Michèle Alliot-MarieHervé Morin - Nicolas Sarkozy Admiral Navy Hervé Morin - Army general Army Hervé MorinAlain JuppéGérard LonguetJean-Yves Le Drian - François Hollande Air army general Air Force Jean-Yves Le Drian - Admiral Navy Jean-Yves Le DrianSylvie GoulardFlorence Parly - Emmanuel Macron Admiral Incumbent Navy Florence Parly
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