The Chief of the Air and Space Force Staff (french: Chef d'état-major de l'armée de l'air et de l'espace, CEMAAE) is the military head of the
French Air and Space Force
The French Air and Space Force (AAE) (french: Armée de l'air et de l'espace, ) is the air and space force of the French Armed Forces. It was the first military aviation force in history, formed in 1909 as the , a service arm of the French Ar ...
. 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. 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. Special responsibilities can be assigned to them in relation to nuclear safety.
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.
The current chief, General Stéphane Mille, has been serving since 10th September 2021.
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
An army (from Old French ''armee'', itself derived from the Latin verb ''armāre'', meaning "to arm", and related to the Latin noun ''arma'', meaning "arms" or "weapons"), ground force or land force is a fighting force that fights primarily on ...
, 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
*
Chief of the Defence Staff
**
Chief of Staff of the French Army
**
Chief of Staff of the French Navy
The Chief of the Naval Staff (French: Chef d’état-major de la Marine, acronym: CEMM) is a French general officer, adviser to the Chief of the Defence Staff for the French Navy and responsible to the Minister of the Armed Forces for preparing ...
**
Special Operations Command
**
Directorate General of the National Gendarmerie
*
Strategic Air Forces Command
The Strategic Air Forces (FAS) (french: Commandement des Forces Aériennes Stratégiques (CFAS)) is a command of the French Air and Space Force. It was created on January 14, 1964, and directs France's nuclear bombardment force.
The headquarters ...
References
Notes
{{DEFAULTSORT:French Air Force, Chief of Staff of the
*
French Air and Space Force
French military staff
France
France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...