François Lecointre

François Lecointre
Press and Information Office of Ministy of Defence of the Russian Federation · CC BY 4.0 · source
Name	François Lecointre
Birth date	1962
Birth place	Cherbourg, Manche, France
Allegiance	French Republic
Branch	French Army
Serviceyears	1983–2021
Rank	Général d'armée
Commands	Chief of the Defence Staff

François Lecointre (born 1962) is a retired French army officer who served as Chief of the Defence Staff of the French Armed Forces from 2017 to 2021. He is noted for his leadership during operations connected to Operation Barkhane, Operation Chammal, and the French response to terrorism at home and abroad, and for involvement with multinational bodies such as NATO and the United Nations.

Early life and education

Lecointre was born in Cherbourg in Manche, Normandy, and attended preparatory classes before entering the École spéciale militaire de Saint-Cyr in the early 1980s. His formative studies included instruction at the École de Guerre and staff courses that connected him with institutions such as the École normale supérieure, the Collège interarmées de défense, and the Centre des hautes études militaires. During this period he encountered peers from the École polytechnique, the Institut d'études politiques de Paris, and officers destined for commands in formations like the Régiment de chasseurs and the 1er régiment de parachutistes d'infanterie de marine.

Military career

Lecointre began his commissioned service in the French Army with assignments to units associated with infantry and parachute formations, including postings in the 20th Parachute Regiment and operations related to theaters such as Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo. He progressed through staff positions at the Ministry of the Armed Forces and higher command roles in brigades connected to the Rapid Reaction Force and the Force d'action terrestre. His career included liaison roles with multinational headquarters in Brussels and participation in planning for coalitions involving United States commands, British Army, and contingents from Germany, Italy, and Spain.

He later commanded formations implicated in external operations and interoperability efforts with the European Union Common Security and Defence Policy structures, engaging with the European External Action Service and contributing to exercises alongside Canada, Belgium, Netherlands, and Poland forces. Lecointre's staff experience encompassed strategic planning linked to documents prepared with the Élysée Palace and coordination with ministers from cabinets of François Hollande and Emmanuel Macron.

Chief of the Defence Staff

Appointed by President Emmanuel Macron in July 2017, Lecointre succeeded Pierre de Villiers as head of the French Armed Forces. In that capacity he advised on operations including Operation Sentinelle, the national counterterrorism posture after attacks such as those in Paris and Nice, and international commitments under frameworks like UN Security Council resolutions and NATO Response Force postures. He represented France at conferences with counterparts from United Kingdom, the United States, Germany, Italy, Spain, and delegations to forums like the Munich Security Conference and meetings with leaders from Sahel nations including Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso.

During his tenure Lecointre handled force generation and modernization priorities tied to procurement programs interacting with the Direction générale de l'armement, industrial partners such as Dassault Aviation, Thales Group, and Nexter Systems, and collaborated on strategic concepts with the Chiefs of Staff Committee of allied nations. He managed responses to crises that required coordination with the Ministry of the Interior and civil authorities in metropolitan areas and overseas territories like New Caledonia and French Guiana.

Notable operations and deployments

Lecointre oversaw and contributed to planning for deployments in the Sahel under Operation Barkhane and aerial operations against ISIL in the Operation Chammal framework. He directed French participation in stabilization missions in the Central African Republic within contexts related to the MINUSCA and advised on troop contributions to Lebanon under UNIFIL. Earlier in his career he was involved in operations in the Balkans, counterinsurgency efforts linked to Algeria-era doctrines, and engagements in Afghanistan alongside ISAF partners.

His leadership covered domestic security deployments such as Operation Sentinelle in response to attacks by groups affiliated with Al-Qaeda and ISIL, and international evacuations coordinated with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs during crises in countries including Libya, Syria, and Iraq.

Awards and honours

Lecointre received French distinctions including appointments to the Légion d'honneur and the Ordre national du Mérite, as well as operational citations from the Croix de la Valeur Militaire. He was recognized by allied states with honors from governments such as the United Kingdom, United States, and Belgium and received commendations tied to NATO and United Nations missions. Military colleges and think tanks in Paris, Brussels, and Washington, D.C. have cited his contributions to strategic doctrine and defence cooperation.

Personal life

Lecointre is married and has a family; his private life has been kept discreet while interacting with public figures including presidents François Hollande and Emmanuel Macron, ministers such as Florence Parly, and international chiefs like James Mattis and General Valery Gerasimov. Outside service he has participated in events at institutions such as the Institut des hautes études de défense nationale, the Centre for European Reform, and lectures at military academies in London and Rome.

Category:French generals Category:1962 births Category:Living people