The ''Institut des hautes études de défense nationale'' (IHEDN) (Institute of Advanced Studies in National Defence) is a French public academic institution for research, education and promotion of expertise and sensitization towards defence matters, founded in 1936 by Admiral

Raoul Castex Raoul Victor Patrice Castex (27 October 1878, Saint-Omer – 10 January 1968, Villeneuve-de-Rivière) was a French Navy admiral and a military theorist. Naval career Castex joined the Navy in 1896, becoming the best student of his promotion ...

. Originally it was the Collège des hautes études de défense nationale and was renamed an institute in 1948. To the original national training sessions were added sessions in the regions (1954), international sessions (1980), economic intelligence cycles (1995), and other targeted seminars. In 1997 the Institute became a public administrative establishment placed under the authority of the

Prime Minister A prime minister, premier or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. Under those systems, a prime minister is ...

. In 2010 it merged with the DGA's (

Direction générale de l'armement The Direction générale de l’armement (DGA; English: Directorate General of Armaments), is the French Government Defence procurement and technology agency responsible for project management, development and purchase of weapon systems for the Fr ...

) Centre des hautes études de l’armement (Centre for Higher Armament Studies (CHEAr)). The Institute is located in the

École Militaire École may refer to: * an elementary school in the French educational stages normally followed by secondary education establishments (collège and lycée) * École (river), a tributary of the Seine flowing in région Île-de-France * École, Savo ...

. The vocation of the Institute is to train high-level military, government officials and high-ranking executives in defence matters. Some sessions are reserved for young auditors, generally students in the foremost

grandes écoles Grandes may refer to: *Agustín Muñoz Grandes Agustín Muñoz Grandes (27 January 1896 – 11 July 1970) was a Spanish general, and politician, vice-president of the Spanish Government and minister with Francisco Franco several times; also know ...

, and under the age of 30. In 2010, the deputy director of the defense college was Robert Ranquet.

References

External links

Site of the IHEDN
{{DEFAULTSORT:Institut des hautes études de défense nationale Military academies of France