André Lebeau

André Lebeau (March 4, 1932 – February 25, 2013) was a French aerospace engineer and administrator who served as the President of the National Center for Space Studies (CNES), Deputy Director General and Director of Programs at the European Space Agency, president of EUMETSAT, Vice President of World Meteorological Organization, and Director General of Météo-France. He authored several books on space and environmental topics. Lebeau received various honors including France's highest order of merit, Legion of Honour.

Early life and education
Lebeau was born in Montceau-les-Mines, Saône-et-Loire. He studied at Lycée Saint-Louis before attending the École Normale Supérieure in Paris, where he received a degree in physical sciences in 1952. In 1956, he passed the agrégation examination in physical sciences. Lebeau received his doctorate in science in 1965.

Career
In 1958, Lebeau participated in the 2nd French Antarctic Expedition, supporting the construction of the Dumont d'Urville base during the International Geophysical Year. In 1961, he founded and directed the Ionospheric Research Group, a collaboration between telecommunications, geophysical, and scientific research organizations.

Lebeau joined the French space agency CNES in 1965 as Director of Programs and Planning. He later served as Deputy Director General for Industrial Policy Programs (1972–1975). He then worked at the European Space Agency from 1975 to 1980 as Deputy Director General and Director of Programs.

Honors and awards
Lebeau received various honors including:


 * Franck J. Malina Astronautics Medal
 * French National Order of Merit
 * Legion of Honour

Publications
Lebeau was the author of several books on space and technology as well as environmental issues:

He is also the author of important physics work on the upper atmosphere and geomagnetism.
 * Electric Currents in the Ionosphere of the Polar Regions, Ph.D. thesis, 1965.
 * L'espace en héritage, Paris, éditions Odile Jacob, 1986.
 * Lebeau (André) and Cohendet (Patrick), Strategic Choices and Major Civil Programs, Economica Editions, 1987.
 * Lebeau (André) and Salomon (Jean-Jacques), L'écrivain public et l'informatique, Paris, Hachette, 1988.
 * Space. Les enjeux et les mythes, Paris, Hachette, 1998.
 * The gears of technology. Essai sur une menace planète, Paris, NRF-Gallimard, 2005.
 * L'enconfinement planète, Paris, Gallimard, 2008.
 * Les horizons terrestres: réflexions sur la survie de l'humanité, Paris, Gallimard, 2011.

Death
Lebeau died on February 25, 2013, in Clamart, France.