Jean-Louis Georgelin

Jean-Louis Georgelin (30 August 1948 – 18 August 2023) was a French Army General who was Chief of the Defence Staff ("Chef d'état-major des armées", CEMA) between 4 October 2006 and 25 February 2010. From 9 June 2010 until 2016 he served as Great Chancellor of the French national order, the Légion d'honneur.

Jean-Louis Georgelin
Georgelin in 2007
Born(1948-08-30)30 August 1948
Aspet, Haute-Garonne, France
Died18 August 2023(2023-08-18) (aged 74)
Bordes-Uchentein, France
AllegianceFrance
Service/branch French Army
Years of service1967–2010
RankGeneral
Chief of the Military Staff
Chief of the Defence Staff
Unit153rd infantry regiment
AwardsLégion d'honneur
Ordre national du Mérite
Bundesverdienstkreuz
Legion of Merit
Other workGreat Chancellor of the Légion d'honneur
Jean-Louis Georgelin and Nicolas Sarkozy

On 17 April 2019, Georgelin was appointed special representative to oversee the reconstruction of Notre-Dame-de-Paris after it was severely damaged by fire, and continued in this role until his death.

Biography

After nine years at the Prytanée National Militaire, Georgelin joined Saint-Cyr in 1967. As a lieutenant, he was Chef de Section (Platoon Commander) at the École d'application de l'infanterie (Infantry School) 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" (Major), 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 (IHEDN) in Paris.

From 1985 to 1988, as a Lieutenant-colonel, he was in charge of a class at Saint-Cyr (promotion Cadets de la France Libre). He then served at the chief of staff of the Army at the financial department from 1988 to 1991. He was aide 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 on 3 October 2003.

Georgelin was promoted to Chief of the Defence Staff by the ministerial council of 20 August 2006. He became the Great Chancellor of the French national order of the Legion of honor by the ministerial council of 9 June 2010.[1]

On 17 April 2019, Georgelin was appointed special representative to oversee the reconstruction of Notre-Dame-de-Paris after it was severely damaged by fire.[2]

On 18 August 2023, Georgelin died after falling off a mountain during an alpine hike.[3][4] His body was discovered at Mont Valier peak in the Pyrenees mountains straddling the France-Spain border.[4][5] Georgelin was 74, and his death was ruled as having likely been due to an accident.[5]

Honours

Notes
  1. Conseil des ministres du 9 juin 2010, mesures d’ordre individuel Archived 13 June 2010 at the Wayback Machine
  2. Jean-Louis Georgelin, un général pour veiller sur Notre-Dame
  3. Décès en montagne du Général Jean-Louis Georgelin (in French)
  4. Willsher, Kim (19 August 2023). "French general in charge of Notre-Dame rebuild dies in mountain fall". The Guardian. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
  5. "French general in charge of Notre-Dame reconstruction found dead in Pyrenees". France 24. 19 August 2023. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
  6. "DOF – Diario Oficial de la Federación".
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