According to our calculations, Admiral Vaujour becomes the 63rd Chief of Staff of the French Navy (not counting three admirals at the head of French naval forces during the Vichy regime but counting two admirals of the Forces navales françaises libres during WWII).
The ceremony took place in presence of the French Minister of the Armed Forces, Sebastien Lecornu, aboard Mistral-class LHD Dixmude. During this ceremony, Lecornu entrusted three new flags to the guard of three forces of the Navy: the “Naval Aviation” flag was entrusted to the guard of the naval aviation force (ALAVIA), the of “Submarines” flag was assigned to the strategic oceanic force (FOST) and the “Combat ships” flag to the naval action force (FAN).
Admiral Nicolas VAUJOUR entered the French Naval Academy on September 1, 1989. At the end of his officer training on the helicopter carrier Jeanne d’Arc, in 1992 he joined the surveillance frigate Ventôse in Saint-Nazaire to the end of its armament.
He then participated in the first deployments of the ship in operation CORYMBE off the coast of Africa then in the Caribbean arc during the Haiti embargo in 1994. He was assigned in 1995 to the frigate De Grasse then in 1996, he takes command of the Lion training vessel.
In 1998, he joined the anti-air frigate Jean Bart. Promoted to lieutenant captain, in 2001 he joined the anti-air frigate Cassard as a combat systems expert. During these four years he participated in the protection of the port of Djibouti and the deployments of the carrier strike group in the Adriatic and the Indian Ocean (TRIDENT and HERACLES missions).
In 2002, he was assigned to the ALFAN training division as head of the “above surface warfare” section. In 2004 he took command of the high seas patrol vessel (PHM) Commandant Birot and was deployed to the Indian Ocean as part of the ENDURING FREEDOOM mission. He joined the Joint Defense College in 2006.
On August 13, 2007, he took on the responsibilities of deputy sea to the chief of staff of the armed forces. He joined the air defense frigate Forbin as XO on July 27, 2009 and was promoted to captain on December 1, 2009.
He took up the duties of deputy admiral commanding the naval action force for transverse domains on September 5, 2011. He took command of the air defense frigate (FDA) Chevalier Paul on July 16, 2012.
At the beginning of 2013, he was deployed to the Indian Ocean and joined an American Carrier Strike Group as commander of air defense around the aircraft carrier and the Arab-Persian Gulf region. In August 2013, he participated in knowledge and anticipation operations off the coast of Syria. In July 2015 he was appointed “combat engagement” operational coherence officer at the army general staff. In August 2017, he was appointed deputy commander of the French Aeromaritime Rapid Reaction Force.
Promoted to rear admiral on April 1, 2018, he took on the responsibilities of deputy chief of staff for “naval air operations”. Promoted to vice admiral on September 1, 2020, he held the position of “international relations” coordinating authority of the navy until September 9, 2021. He was appointed on September 10, 2021, chief of staff “operations” of the Defence Staff, with the rank of squadron vice-admiral.
Roles of the French Navy Chief of Staff
As Chief of Staff of the Navy, Admiral Vaujour is the first representative of the French Navy. In this capacity, he advises and assists the Joint Chief of Staff with regards to the French Navy. He ensures the operational readiness of the naval forces, is responsible for the recruitment, initial training, discipline, morale and condition of sailors and maintains bilateral relations with foreign navies.
He has authority over the naval staff, over the direction of naval military personnel, over major force commands, and over maritime zones commanders.
Admiral Vandier becomes Major General of the Defence Staff
Admiral Vandier who assumed the role of Chief of Staff of the French Navy from September 1, 2020 until yesterday doesn’t retire. He has been promoted to Major General of the Defence Staff (Major Général des Armées in French, a role somewhat equivalent to Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in the US). Naval News interviewed Admiral Vandier on three occasions: In May 2021 about the French Navy in the Indo-Pacific, in July 2022 about the PA-Ng future aircraft carrier program and the war in Ukraine, and in October 2022 for the opening of Euronaval 2022.
