General, Army, Retired. He obtained his  diplomas in Saint-Cyr, Ecole de guerre, and IEP Paris.

Assignments :
-Commanding officer armored cavalry units in France, Germany and Africa
-Staff assignments J3, J4, in France and Africa
-President Mitterrand’s and President Chirac’s personal military staff (1993-1996),
- C.O. French forces in the Caribbean (1996-1998)
-President Chirac’s Head of personal military staff (1999-2002)
-Chief of Defense Staff French armed forces (2002-2006)
-Chairman EU Military Committee (2006-2009)

Awards : Grand-Croix Légion d’Honneur

Books : « Aimer l’Armée, une passion à partager », Du Mesnil, 2011, « Chefs d’Etat en guerre», Perrin 2019