Jean-Louis Georgelin

Jean-Louis Georgelin (30 August 1948 – 18 August 2023) was a French Army General who was Chief of the Defence Staff ("Chef d'état-major des armées", CEMA) between 4 October 2006 and 25 February 2010. From 9 June 2010 until 2016 he served as Great Chancellor of the French national order, the Légion d'honneur.

On 17 April 2019, Georgelin was appointed special representative to oversee the reconstruction of Notre-Dame-de-Paris after it was severely damaged by fire, and continued in this role until his death.

Biography
After nine years at the Prytanée National Militaire, Georgelin joined Saint-Cyr in 1967. As a lieutenant, he was Chef de Section (Platoon Commander) at the École d'application de l'infanterie (Infantry School) from 1975 to 1976, responsible for the training of non-commissioned officers. He served with the 153rd Infantry Regiment as a Captain.

As a "Commandant" (Major), he graduated from the United States Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth and then from the Institute of Higher National Defence Studies (IHEDN) in Paris.

From 1985 to 1988, as a lieutenant-colonel, he was in charge of a class at Saint-Cyr (promotion Cadets de la France Libre). He then served as the chief of staff of the Army in the financial department from 1988 to 1991. He was an aide to the chief of cabinet of the Prime Minister from 1994 to 1997. From 1998 and 2002 he served at the general staff of the Army, directing the "plans, programmes and evaluations" division.

Georgelin was the personal chief of staff of President Jacques Chirac from 25 October 2002 to 4 October 2006. He was promoted to général d'armée on 3 October 2003.

Georgelin was promoted to Chief of the Defence Staff by the ministerial council on 20 August 2006. He became the Great Chancellor of the French national order of the Legion of honor by the ministerial council of 9 June 2010.

On 17 April 2019, Georgelin was appointed special representative to oversee the reconstruction of Notre-Dame-de-Paris after it was severely damaged by fire.

On 18 August 2023, Georgelin died after falling off a mountain during an alpine hike. His body was discovered at Mont Valier peak in the Pyrenees mountains straddling the France-Spain border. Georgelin was 74, and his death was ruled as having likely been due to an accident. Civil servant Philippe Jost (fr) succeeded Georgelin in leading the reconstruction.

Honours

 * Brevet Parachutiste.jpg French Parachutist Badge
 * Legion of Honour - Grand Cross (France).png Grand Cross of the Légion d'Honneur (France)
 * National Order of Merit - Grand Cross (France).png Grand Cross of the Ordre national du Mérite (France)
 * Palmes academiques Commandeur ribbon.svg French Order of Academic Palms, Commander
 * Ordre des Arts et des Lettres Commandeur ribbon.svg French Order of Arts and Letters, Commander
 * Medaille commemorative Francaise ribbon.svg French commemorative medal
 * NATO Medal Yugoslavia ribbon bar.svg NATO Medal for the former Yugoslavia with bar
 * GER Bundesverdienstkreuz 4 GrVK 218px.svg Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany, Commander's Cross
 * US Legion of Merit Commander ribbon.png Commander of the US Legion of Merit
 * MEX Orden del Aguila Azteca 2011 Banda BAR.svg Sash of the Order of the Aztec Eagle (Mexico)
 * OPMM-gcX.svg Order pro Merito Melitensi (Order of Merit of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta), Grand Cross with swords
 * OESSG Decorazione di Merito - Croce con Placca d'Oro al Merito del SSG BAR.jpg Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, Cross of Merit with Gold Star (Holy See)
 * Darjah Utama Bakti Cemerlang (Tentera) ribbon.png Distinguished Service Order (Military), Singapore
 * Nishan-e-Imtiaz.png Order of Excellence, Grand Cross (Pakistan)
 * CHL Order of Bernardo O'Higgins - Grand Cross BAR.png Order of Bernardo O'Higgins, Grand Cross (Chile)
 * Order of King Abdulaziz, Commander (Saudi Arabia).png Order of King Abdulaziz, Grand Officer (Saudi Arabia)
 * PRT Military Order of Aviz - Grand Officer BAR.svg Order of Aviz, Grand Officer (Portugal)
 * MCO Order of Saint-Charles - Grand Officer BAR.svg Order of Saint-Charles, Grand Officer (Monaco)
 * ITA OMRI 2001 GUff BAR.svg Order of Merit of the Italian Republic, Grand Officer (Italy)
 * MAR Order of the Military - 2nd Class BAR.png Military Order of Morocco, 2nd class
 * Order of the British Empire (Military) Ribbon.png Order of the British Empire, Honorary Knight Commander (Military)
 * ESP Isabella Catholic Order COM.svg Order of Isabella the Catholic, Commander (Spain)
 * Commander Ordre de Leopold.png Order of Léopold, Commander (Belgium)
 * BEL Kroonorde Commandeur BAR.svg Order of the Crown, Commander (Belgium)
 * HUN Order of Merit of the Hungarian Rep (military) 3class BAR.svg Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary, Commander
 * BRA - Order of the Southern Cross - Commander BAR.svg Order of the Southern Cross, Commander (Brazil)
 * Order of Merit - Commander (Central African Republic).png Order of Merit of the Central African Republic, Commander
 * BEN National Order of Merit - Commander BAR.png National Order of Merit of Benin, Commander
 * Mali Ordre national du Mali Commandeur ribbon.svg National Order of Mali, Commander
 * National Order - Commander (Niger) - ribbon bar.png National Order of Niger, Commander
 * Ordre national du Tchad - Commandeur.svg National Order of Chad, Commander
 * POL Order Zaslugi RP kl3 BAR.png Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland, Commander
 * Ordre de la Valeur (Cameroun) Commandeur 2nd type ribbon.svg Order of Valour, Commander (Cameroon)