Henri Bentégeat
Encyclopedia
Henri BentégeatHenri Bentégeat (born on 27 May 1946 in Talence
, France
) is a French Army
general
who served as the chairman of the European Union Military Committee
between 2006 and 2009 .
, where he enrolled in 1965 and graduated in 1967. After graduation, he first served with the Troupes de marine
. From 1990 to 1992, he served as Assistant Defence Attaché in Washington, D.C.
He served as Assistant to the Chief of the Military Staff of the President of the Republic from 1993.
Bentégeat was promoted to the rank of Brigade General
in 1996 and to Divisional General
in 1998, when he became assistant to the Director for Strategic Affairs of the French Ministry of Defence. In April 1999, he was made Chief of the Military Staff of the President of the Republic
, was promoted to Général de corps d'armée
on 1 September 1999 and to Général d'armée on 4 January 2001. He became Chef d'état-major des armées (Chief of the Defence Staff) in October 2002.
On 6 November 2006, Bentégeat took up his present position as Chairman of the European Union Military Committee by appointment of the European Council
. His term ended on 6 November 2009, when he was succeeded by Håkan Syrén
.
Talence
Talence is a commune in the Gironde department in Aquitaine in southwestern France.It is the third-largest suburb of the city of Bordeaux, and is adjacent to it on the south side...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
) is a French Army
French Army
The French Army, officially the Armée de Terre , is the land-based and largest component of the French Armed Forces.As of 2010, the army employs 123,100 regulars, 18,350 part-time reservists and 7,700 Legionnaires. All soldiers are professionals, following the suspension of conscription, voted in...
general
General
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
who served as the chairman of the European Union Military Committee
European Union Military Committee
The European Union Military Committee ' is a department of military officials under the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and the Political and Security Committee of the European Union's Common Foreign and Security Policy. The EUMC gives military advice to...
between 2006 and 2009 .
Biography
Bentégeat studied at the military academy École spéciale militaire de Saint-CyrÉcole Spéciale Militaire de Saint-Cyr
The École Spéciale Militaire de Saint-Cyr is the foremost French military academy. Its official name is . It is often referred to as Saint-Cyr . Its motto is "Ils s'instruisent pour vaincre": literally "They study to vanquish" or "Training for victory"...
, where he enrolled in 1965 and graduated in 1967. After graduation, he first served with the Troupes de marine
Troupes de marine
The or Infanterie de marine, formerly Troupes coloniales, are an arm of the French Army with a colonial heritage. The Troupes de marine have a dedicated overseas service role. Despite their title they have been a part of the Army since 1958...
. From 1990 to 1992, he served as Assistant Defence Attaché in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
He served as Assistant to the Chief of the Military Staff of the President of the Republic from 1993.
Bentégeat was promoted to the rank of Brigade General
Brigade General
Brigade General is a rank used in many armies to denote the lowest rank of general, corresponding to command of a brigade. The rank is mostly used in countries where it is used as a modern alternative to a previous older rank of Brigadier or Brigadier General...
in 1996 and to Divisional General
Divisional General
Divisional General is a rank used in many armies to denote a rank of general, corresponding to command of a division. For convenience Divisional General is almost always translated into English as Major-General, the equivalent rank used by the UK, USA, etc., although this translation is, strictly...
in 1998, when he became assistant to the Director for Strategic Affairs of the French Ministry of Defence. In April 1999, he was made Chief of the Military Staff of the President of the Republic
Chief of the Military Staff of the President of the Republic
The Chief of the Military Staff of the President of the Republic is a role in the military and government of France, heading the president's military staff until the French Fifth Republic....
, was promoted to Général de corps d'armée
Général de corps d'armée
A Général de corps d'armée is a senior rank in the French Army.The rank is the equivalent of a Lieutenant General in other countries and is junior to the rank of Général d'armée and senior to Général de division...
on 1 September 1999 and to Général d'armée on 4 January 2001. He became Chef d'état-major des armées (Chief of the Defence Staff) in October 2002.
On 6 November 2006, Bentégeat took up his present position as Chairman of the European Union Military Committee by appointment of the European Council
European Council
The European Council is an institution of the European Union. It comprises the heads of state or government of the EU member states, along with the President of the European Commission and the President of the European Council, currently Herman Van Rompuy...
. His term ended on 6 November 2009, when he was succeeded by Håkan Syrén
Håkan Syrén
General Håkan Erik Gunnar Syrén is a General of the Swedish Amphibious Corps and chairman of the European Union Military Committee...
.