The Chief of the Air and Space Force Staff (, CEMAAE) is the military head of the French Air and Space Force.Defence Code – Article R3224–4 § 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.Defence Code – Article R*3121–25 § 1 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.Defence Code – Article R*3121–25 § 2 Special responsibilities can be assigned to them in relation to nuclear safety.Defence Code – Article R*3121–25 § 3
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.Defence Code – Article R3224–4 § 2
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. 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 Portrait Rank & Name Term Minister of Air Commander-in-Chief Ref. Took office Left office Duration 1 Division general Laurent EynacPaul Painlevé Gaston Doumergue - 2 Division general Paul PainlevéJacques-Louis Dumesnil - Paul Doumer 3 Division general Jacques-Louis DumesnilPaul Painlevé - Albert Lebrun 4 Division general Paul PainlevéPierre Cot - 5 Air division general Pierre Cot - 6 Air division general Victor Denain - 7 Air division general Victor Denain 8 Air division general Victor DenainMarcel Déat - 9 Air division general Marcel DéatPierre CotGuy La Chambre - 10 Air division general ... Guy La Chambre 11 Air army general ... Laurent EynacBertrand PujoJean Bergeret -- Philippe Pétain
French State Portrait Rank & Name Term Minister of Air Commander-in-Chief Ref. Took office Left office Duration 12 Air corps general Jean Bergeret Philippe Pétain 13 Air brigade general Jean BergeretJean-François Jannekeyn -
Provisional Government Portrait Rank & Name Term Minister of Air Commander-in-Chief Ref. Took office Left office Duration 14 Air army general Charles TillonVacant Charles de Gaulle -- Félix Gouin 15 Air army general Vacant - Georges Bidault 16 Air division general Vacant - Vincent Auriol
Fourth Republic Portrait Rank & Name Term Minister of the Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief Ref. Took office Left office Duration 17 Air division general VacantAndré MaroselliPierre-Henri Teitgen Vincent Auriol - 18 Air army general Pierre-Henri TeitgenRené Mayer[...]Georges BidaultRené Pleven 19 Air army general René PlevenMarie-Pierre KœnigEmmanuel TempleJacques ChevalierMarie-Pierre Kœnig - René Coty 20 Air army general Marie-Pierre KœnigPierre BillotteMaurice Bourgès-MaunouryAndré MoriceJacques Chaban-Delmas 21 Air army general Jacques Chaban-DelmasPierre de ChevignéCharles de Gaulle -
Fifth Republic Portrait Rank & Name Term Minister of the Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief Ref. Took office Left office Duration 22 Air army general Charles de GaullePierre Guillaumat René CotyCharles de Gaulle 23 Air army general Pierre GuillaumatPierre Messmer Charles de Gaulle 24 Air army general Pierre Messmer Charles de Gaulle -- 25 Air army general Pierre MessmerMichel Debré Charles de GaulleGeorges Pompidou - 26 Air army general Michel Debré Georges Pompidou -- 27 Air army general Michel DebréRobert GalleyJacques SouffletYvon Bourges Georges PompidouValéry Giscard d'Estaing - 28 Air army general Yvon Bourges Valéry Giscard d'Estaing - 29 Air army general Yvon BourgesJoël Le TheuleRobert GalleyCharles Hernu Valéry Giscard d'EstaingFrançois Mitterrand - 30 Air army general Charles HernuPaul QuilèsAndré Giraud François Mitterrand - 31 Air army general André GiraudJean-Pierre Chevènement François Mitterrand - 32 Air army general Jean-Pierre ChevènementPierre Joxe François Mitterrand - 33 Air army general Pierre JoxeFrançois Léotard François Mitterrand - 34 Air army general François LéotardCharles Millon François MitterrandJacques Chirac - 35 Air army general Charles MillonAlain Richard Jacques Chirac - 36 Air army general Alain RichardMichèle Alliot-Marie Jacques Chirac - 37 Air army general Michèle Alliot-Marie Jacques Chirac - 38 Air army general Michèle Alliot-MarieHervé Morin Jacques ChiracNicolas Sarkozy - 39 Air army general Hervé MorinAlain JuppéGérard LonguetJean-Yves Le Drian Nicolas SarkozyFrançois Hollande 40 Air army general Jean-Yves Le Drian François Hollande 41 Air army general Jean-Yves Le DrianSylvie GoulardFlorence Parly François HollandeEmmanuel Macron 42 Air army general Florence Parly Emmanuel Macron 43 Air army general Florence ParlySébastien Lecornu Emmanuel Macron 44 Air army general Sébastien LecornuBruno Le MaireCatherine Vautrin Emmanuel Macron
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 List of Commanders of the Free French Aerial Forces Portrait Rank & Name Term Commissioner Leader Ref. Took office Left office Duration 1 Vice admiral Vacant Charles de Gaulle - 2 Air brigade general Vacant - 3 Air corps general Martial ValinAndré Le TroquerFernand Grenier -
Chiefs of the General Staff List of Chiefs of the General Staff Portrait Rank & Name Term Commissioner Leader Ref. Took office Left office Duration 1 Vacant Charles de Gaulle -- 2 Vacant -- 3 Vacant -- 4 VacantMartial Henri Valin -- 5 Martial Henri Valin -- 6 Martial Henri Valin -- 7 Martial Henri ValinAndré Le TroquerFernand Grenier --
See also Chief of the Defence Staff Chief of Staff of the French Army Chief of Staff of the French Navy Special Operations Command Directorate General of the National Gendarmerie Strategic Air Forces Command
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