François Lecointre
François Lecointre | |
|---|---|
General Lecointre in 2020 | |
| Chief of the Defence Staff | |
| In office 20 July 2017 – 21 July 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Pierre de Villiers |
| Succeeded by | Thierry Burkhard |
| Head of the Prime Minister's military cabinet | |
| In office 1 September 2016 – 20 July 2017 | |
| Prime Minister | Manuel Valls Bernard Cazeneuve Édouard Philippe |
| Preceded by | Olivier Taprest |
| Succeeded by | Benoît Durieux |
| Personal details | |
| Born | François Gérard Marie Lecointre 6 February 1962 Cherbourg, France |
| Children | 4 |
| Parents |
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| Alma mater | |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | France |
| Branch/service | French Army |
| Years of service | 1984 – 2021 |
| Rank | Army general |
| Unit | |
| Commands | |
| Battles/wars | |
François Gérard Marie Lecointre (French pronunciation: [fʁɑ̃swa ʒeʁaʁ maʁi ləkwɛ̃tʁ]; born 6 February 1962) is a French army general who has served as Grand Chancellor of the Order of the Legion of Honour since 1 February 2023. He previously served as Chief of the Defence Staff between 2017 and 2021.
The son of a naval officer, Lecointre joined the French Army in 1984. As a captain, with Lieutenant Bruno Heluin (platoon leader) as the company commanding officer, he led an assault at the Battle of Vrbanja Bridge in 1995 that was the latest fixed bayonet charge of the French Armed Forces.