Jean-Louis Georgelin

Jean-Louis Marie Georgelin (; 30 August 1948 – 18 August 2023) was a French Army general who served as Chief of the Defence Staff (Chef d'état-major des armées, CEMA) from 4 October 2006 to 25 February 2010. From 9 June 2010 until 31 August 2016 he served as Grand Chancellor of the , the French national order.

On 17 April 2019, Georgelin was appointed the 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 as the chief of staff of the Army in the financial department from 1988 to 1991. He was an 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 the personal chief of staff of President Jacques Chirac from 25 October 2002 to 4 October 2006. He was promoted to général d'armée on 3 October 2003.

Georgelin was promoted to Chief of the Defence Staff by the Council of Ministers on 20 August 2006. He was named the Grand Chancellor of the French national order of the Legion of Honour by the Council of Ministers on 9 June 2010.

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.

On 18 August 2023, Georgelin died after falling off a mountain during an alpine hike. His body was discovered at Mont Valier peak in the Pyrenees mountains straddling the France-Spain border. Civil servant Philippe Jost (fr) succeeded Georgelin in leading the reconstruction.

Honours