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| Chief of the Air and Space Force Staff | |
|---|---|
| Chef d'état-major de l'armée de l'air et de l'espace | |
 Honor flag[1] | |
Incumbent since 15 September 2024General Jérôme Bellanger | |
| Ministry of the Armed Forces | |
| Type | Chief of Staff |
| Abbreviation | CEMAAE |
| Member of | Chiefs of Staff Committee |
| Reports to | Chief of the Defense Staff |
| Seat | Hexagone Balard, Paris |
| Appointer | President of the Republic Requires the Prime Minister's countersignature |
| Precursor | Director of Military Aeronautics |
| Formation | 28 December 1928 |
| First holder | Henry Michaud |
| Deputy | Major General of the Air and Space Force |
| Website | defense.gouv.fr/air |
The Chief of the Air and Space Force Staff (French: Chef d'état-major de l'armée de l'air et de l'espace,[a] CEMAAE)[2] is the military head of the French Air and Space Force.[3] The chief directs the air and space force staff and acts as the principal advisor to the Chief of the Defence Staff on subjects concerning the Air and Space Force.[4] 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.[5] Special responsibilities can be assigned to them in relation to nuclear safety.[6]
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 1940s have been five–stars generals (OF–09). They are assisted in their duties by the Major General of the Air and Space Force who will deputise if needed.[7]
The current chief, General Jérôme Bellanger, has been serving since 15 September 2024.
History
Interwar
The office was officially created in December 1928 in the 1929 Law of Finances.[8] It proposed the creation of a high command for the Military Aeronautics, still under the authority of the Army, which would succeed the function of the Direction of Military Aeronautics. The French Air Force became independent in 1934, and the Chief obtained full authority.
World War II
After the armistice, Germany imposed severe restrictions on the size of the French Air Force. As a result, the scope of authority of the Chief was limited, and the office was ultimately eliminated alongside the Air Force.
Postwar
Free France and the subsequent governments of the re-established French Republic recreated the office at the end of the war.
Office holders
Third Republic
French State
Provisional Government
Fourth Republic
Fifth Republic
Free France
From its creation in 1940 to the final integration of its air force to the regular French Air Force, Free France had its own staff, based in London. The Free French Aerial Forces were headed by a Commander, responsible to the Commander-in-Chief of the Free French Forces, and was assisted by a Chief of the General Staff.
Commanders of the Free French Aerial Forces
Chiefs of the General Staff
See also
References
- ^ Government of the French Republic (10 August 1939). "Marks, honors, salutes and visits in the naval forces and on board naval vessels". gallica.bnf.fr (in French). Retrieved 1 October 2020.
- ^ French Air and Space Force. "The Chief of the Air and Space Force Staff" (in French). Retrieved 1 October 2020.
- ^ Defence Code – Article R3224–4 § 3
- ^ Defence Code – Article R*3121–25 § 1
- ^ Defence Code – Article R*3121–25 § 2
- ^ Defence Code – Article R*3121–25 § 3
- ^ Defence Code – Article R3224–4 § 2
- ^ Government of the French Republic (28 December 1928). "Low of Finances for 1929 – Article 116". gallica.bnf.fr (in French). Retrieved 28 October 2019.
- ^ "Decree of 5 October 1930". Journal Officiel de la République Française (in French) (1930–236): 11443. 7 October 1930. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
- ^ "Decree of 4 January 1931". Journal Officiel de la République Française (in French) (1931–004): 144. 6 January 1931. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
- ^ "Decree of 27 August 1931". Journal Officiel de la République Française (in French) (1931–200): 9474. 28 August 1931. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
- ^ "Decree of 14 January 1933". Journal Officiel de la République Française (in French) (1933–013): 464. 15 January 1933. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
- ^ "Decree of 1 April 1933". Journal Officiel de la République Française (in French) (1933–079): 3430. 2 April 1933. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
- ^ "Decree of 15 February 1934". Journal Officiel de la République Française (in French) (1934–041): 1601. 17 February 1934. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
- ^ "Decree of 31 August 1934". Journal Officiel de la République Française (in French) (1934–205): 9067. 1 September 1934. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
- ^ "GENERAL PICARD; Chief of 'the French Air Force General Staff Until 1940". The New York Times. 14 August 1943. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
- ^ "Decree of 26 December 1935". Journal Officiel de la République Française (in French) (1935–302): 13663. 27 December 1935. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
- ^ "Decree of 16 September 1936". Journal Officiel de la République Française (in French) (1936–219): 9904. 18 September 1936. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
- ^ "Decree of 22 February 1938". Journal Officiel de la République Française (in French) (1938–045): 2247. 23 February 1938. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
- ^ "French Air Staff Chief Will Make Visit to Reich". The New York Times. 22 July 1938. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
- ^ "Decree of 4 September 1940". Journal Officiel de l'État français (in French) (1940–223): 4904. 5 September 1940. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
- ^ "General Odic Joins Free French". The Sydney Morning Herald. 24 November 1941. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
- ^ "Decree of 23 September 1940". Journal Officiel de l'État français (in French) (1940–243): 5157. 25 September 1940. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
- ^ "Decree of 28 February 1946". Journal Officiel de la République Française (in French) (1946–052): 1823. 2 March 1946. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
- ^ "Decree of 2 September 1946". Journal Officiel de la République Française (in French) (1946–207): 7707. 5 September 1946. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
- ^ "Decree of 15 February 1947". Journal Officiel de la République Française (in French) (1947–046): 1690. 22 February 1947. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
- ^ "Decree of 28 January 1948". Journal Officiel de la République Française (in French) (1948–026): 946. 29 January 1948. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
- ^ "Foes of Laos in Regrouping". The Baltimore Sun. 3 May 1953. Archived from the original on 1 February 2013. Retrieved 9 July 2011.
- ^ "Decree of 3 August 1953". Journal Officiel de la République Française (in French) (1953–181): 6837. 4 August 1953. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
- ^ "Decree of 19 March 1955". Journal Officiel de la République Française (in French) (1955–071): 2914. 23 March 1955. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
- ^ "French Air Force Staff Chief Resigns". St. Petersburg Independent. 14 March 1958. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
- ^ "Decree of 17 March 1958". Journal Officiel de la République Française (in French) (1958–066): 2692. 19 March 1958. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
- ^ "Decree of 1 October 1958". Journal Officiel de la République Française (in French) (1958–234): 9174. 5 October 1958. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
- ^ "O.A.S. Leader Denies Part in Hold-up". The Age. 13 April 1962. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
- ^ "Decree of 2 March 1960". Journal Officiel de la République Française (in French) (1960–053): 2124. 3 March 1960. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
- ^ "GEN. PAUL STEHLIN OF FRANCE, 67, DIES; Figured in the Controversy on New Fighter Plane". The New York Times. 23 June 1975. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
- ^ "Decree of 21 February 1967". Journal Officiel de la République Française (in French) (1967–046): 1918. 23 February 1967. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
- ^ Government of the French Republic (6 December 1972). "Décret portant affectation d'un officier général". legifrance.gouv.fr (in French). Retrieved 29 February 2020.
- ^ Government of the French Republic (31 May 1976). "Décret portant affectation d'un officier général". legifrance.gouv.fr (in French). Retrieved 29 February 2020.
- ^ Government of the French Republic (11 June 1979). "Décret portant affectation d'un officier général". legifrance.gouv.fr (in French). Retrieved 29 February 2020.
- ^ Government of the French Republic (24 March 1982). "Décret portant affectation d'un officier général". legifrance.gouv.fr (in French). Retrieved 29 February 2020.
- ^ Government of the French Republic (8 September 1986). "Décret portant affectation d'un officier général". legifrance.gouv.fr (in French). Retrieved 29 February 2020.
- ^ Government of the French Republic (3 April 1989). "Décret portant affectation d'un officier général". legifrance.gouv.fr (in French). Retrieved 29 February 2020.
- ^ Government of the French Republic (9 October 1991). "Décret portant affectation d'un officier général". legifrance.gouv.fr (in French). Retrieved 29 February 2020.
- ^ Government of the French Republic (9 May 1994). "Décret portant affectation d'un officier général". legifrance.gouv.fr (in French). Retrieved 29 February 2020.
- ^ Government of the French Republic (3 August 1995). "Décret portant affectation d'un officier général". legifrance.gouv.fr (in French). Retrieved 29 February 2020.
- ^ Government of the French Republic (25 May 2000). "Décret portant affectation d'un officier général". legifrance.gouv.fr (in French). Retrieved 29 February 2020.
- ^ Government of the French Republic (18 July 2002). "Décret portant affectation d'un officier général". legifrance.gouv.fr (in French). Retrieved 29 February 2020.
- ^ Government of the French Republic (1 June 2006). "Décret portant affectation d'un officier général". legifrance.gouv.fr (in French). Retrieved 29 February 2020.
- ^ Government of the French Republic (20 July 2009). "Décret portant affectation d'un officier général". legifrance.gouv.fr (in French). Retrieved 29 February 2020.
- ^ Stacy Meichtry & Marion Halftermeyer (5 June 2014). "Last of Surviving D-Day Veterans Battle Time to Bear Witness". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
- ^ Government of the French Republic (2 August 2012). "Décret portant affectation d'un officier général". legifrance.gouv.fr (in French). Retrieved 29 February 2020.
- ^ "Greek fighter jet crash 'due to takeoff fault'". BBC. 29 January 2015. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
- ^ Government of the French Republic (4 June 2015). "Décret portant affectation d'un officier général". legifrance.gouv.fr (in French). Retrieved 29 February 2020.
- ^ "NATO welcomes new Supreme Allied Commander Transformation". NATO. 11 September 2018. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
- ^ Government of the French Republic (18 August 2018). "Décret portant affectation d'un officier général". legifrance.gouv.fr (in French). Retrieved 29 February 2020.
- ^ Brian Everstine (2 July 2019). "French Air Force Begins Research into Sixth Generation Aircraft". Air Force Magazine. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
- ^ Bastien Carris (15 September 2021). "New Chief of the Air Staff takes up his duties". Retrieved 1 December 2021.
- ^ National Order of Liberation. "Émile Muselier". Retrieved 29 October 2019.
- ^ Government of Free France (5 July 1941). "Décret du portant nomination du Commandant des Forces Aériennes Françaises Libres". gallica.bnf.fr (in French). Retrieved 28 October 2019.
- ^ Government of Free France (1 July 1943). "Décret portant affectation d'un officier général". gallica.bnf.fr (in French). Retrieved 29 February 2020.
Notes
- ^ lit. 'Chief of Staff of the Air and Space Army'
- ^ Division general at the time of his appointment, became Air division general with the independence of the Air Force from the Army.