Benoît Puga
Encyclopedia
Benoît Puga is a French
général de corps d'armée
. Since 1 September 2008, he has headed the Direction du renseignement militaire
.
, in September 1973, Puga started the École spéciale militaire de Saint-Cyr
. Upon graduation, he choose Infantry and joined the École d'application de l'infanterie in Montpellier
.
After serving two years as section leader of the 1er Groupe de Chasseurs in Reims, with the rank of lieutenant, and a period with a reconnaissance helicopter unit, in April 1978 he joined the 2e régiment étranger de parachutistes, based in Calvi
. He took part in numerous operations abroad, notably the Battle of Kolwezi
(May 1978), in Gabon (1979), in Djibuti (1980–1981), in Lebanon (1982), in Central African Republic
(1983), and in Operation Manta
in Chad (1984).
Between August 1984 and June 1989, he served with the operational centre of the Army; at the Strategic Studies Group of the Secrétariat général de la défense nationale; as a trainee at the École supérieure de guerre; and at the Cours supérieur interarmées.
In 1989, he took command of a battalion of the École spéciale militaire de Saint-Cyr
, until 1992, when he returned to the Headquarter of the Army, working at reorganising the operational command and at redacting the white book on Defence.
In 1994, he was sent to formed Yugoslavia as military assistant to general Bertrand de la Presle, and later as military counsellor to Carl Bildt
.
In August 1996, he took command of the 2e régiment étranger de parachutistes, taking part in Operation Almandin in Central African Republic, and in Operation Pélican in Congo.
From 1998, he served as a professor at the Collège interarmées de défense; again as military counsellor to Carl Bildt
; was auditor at the IHEDN and the CHEM
; was second of the Centre opérationnel interarmées (Joint operation centre); and chief of the Centre de planification et de conduite des opérations.
In 2004, he was made chief of the Commandement des opérations spéciales
.
In 2007, he was made under-chief for operations at the Army headquarter.
From 1 September 2008, he has headed the Direction du renseignement militaire
.
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...
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...
. Since 1 September 2008, he has headed the Direction du renseignement militaire
Direction du renseignement militaire
The Direction du renseignement militaire is a French intelligence agency that has the task of collecting and centralizing information for the French Armed Forces. Created in 1992, its role is similar to that of the US DIA, the UK DIS or the Russian GRU...
.
Biography
After two years of preparatory classes at the Prytanée national militairePrytanée National Militaire
The Prytanée National Militaire, originally Collège Royal Henry-Le-Grand, is a French school managed by the military, offering regular secondary education as well as special preparatory school classes, equivalent in level to the first years of university, for students who wish to enter French...
, in September 1973, Puga started the École spéciale militaire de Saint-Cyr
École 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"...
. Upon graduation, he choose Infantry and joined the École d'application de l'infanterie in Montpellier
Montpellier
-Neighbourhoods:Since 2001, Montpellier has been divided into seven official neighbourhoods, themselves divided into sub-neighbourhoods. Each of them possesses a neighbourhood council....
.
After serving two years as section leader of the 1er Groupe de Chasseurs in Reims, with the rank of lieutenant, and a period with a reconnaissance helicopter unit, in April 1978 he joined the 2e régiment étranger de parachutistes, based in Calvi
Calvi
Calvi is a commune in the Haute-Corse department of France on the island of Corsica.It is the seat of the Canton of Calvi, which contains Calvi and one other commune, Lumio...
. He took part in numerous operations abroad, notably the Battle of Kolwezi
Battle of Kolwezi
The Battle of Kolwezi was an airborne operation by the French Army that took place in May 1978 in Zaire during the Shaba II invasion of Zaire by the Front for the National Liberation of the Congo. It aimed at rescuing European and Zairian hostages held by Katangese rebels after they conquered the...
(May 1978), in Gabon (1979), in Djibuti (1980–1981), in Lebanon (1982), in Central African Republic
Central African Republic
The Central African Republic , is a landlocked country in Central Africa. It borders Chad in the north, Sudan in the north east, South Sudan in the east, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of the Congo in the south, and Cameroon in the west. The CAR covers a land area of about ,...
(1983), and in Operation Manta
Operation Manta
Operation Manta is the code name for the French military intervention in Chad between 1983 and 1984, during the Chadian-Libyan conflict. The operation was prompted by the invasion of Chad by a joint force of Libyan units and Chadian Transitional Government of National Unity rebels in June 1983...
in Chad (1984).
Between August 1984 and June 1989, he served with the operational centre of the Army; at the Strategic Studies Group of the Secrétariat général de la défense nationale; as a trainee at the École supérieure de guerre; and at the Cours supérieur interarmées.
In 1989, he took command of a battalion of the École spéciale militaire de Saint-Cyr
École 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"...
, until 1992, when he returned to the Headquarter of the Army, working at reorganising the operational command and at redacting the white book on Defence.
In 1994, he was sent to formed Yugoslavia as military assistant to general Bertrand de la Presle, and later as military counsellor to Carl Bildt
Carl Bildt
, Honorary KCMG is a Swedish politician, diplomat and nobleman. Formerly Prime Minister of Sweden from 1991 to 1994 and leader of the liberal conservative Moderate Party from 1986 to 1999, Bildt has served as Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs since 6 October 2006...
.
In August 1996, he took command of the 2e régiment étranger de parachutistes, taking part in Operation Almandin in Central African Republic, and in Operation Pélican in Congo.
From 1998, he served as a professor at the Collège interarmées de défense; again as military counsellor to Carl Bildt
Carl Bildt
, Honorary KCMG is a Swedish politician, diplomat and nobleman. Formerly Prime Minister of Sweden from 1991 to 1994 and leader of the liberal conservative Moderate Party from 1986 to 1999, Bildt has served as Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs since 6 October 2006...
; was auditor at the IHEDN and the CHEM
Chem
Chem may refer to:*ChemistryIn Ancient Egyptian usage:*Khem , the Egyptian word for "black"*Min , in the past erroneously named KhemCHEM may refer to :...
; was second of the Centre opérationnel interarmées (Joint operation centre); and chief of the Centre de planification et de conduite des opérations.
In 2004, he was made chief of the Commandement des opérations spéciales
Commandement des Opérations Spéciales
The Commandement des Opérations Spéciales is the organisation which coordinates the use of the French special forces of all military branches . The COS was created on 24 June 1992, following the Gulf War...
.
In 2007, he was made under-chief for operations at the Army headquarter.
From 1 September 2008, he has headed the Direction du renseignement militaire
Direction du renseignement militaire
The Direction du renseignement militaire is a French intelligence agency that has the task of collecting and centralizing information for the French Armed Forces. Created in 1992, its role is similar to that of the US DIA, the UK DIS or the Russian GRU...
.
Honours
- Commandeur de la Légion d'honneurLégion d'honneurThe Legion of Honour, or in full the National Order of the Legion of Honour is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of the Consulat which succeeded to the First Republic, on 19 May 1802...
- Grand officier de l'ordre national du MériteOrdre National du MériteThe Ordre national du Mérite is an Order of State awarded by the President of the French Republic. It was founded on 3 December 1963 by President Charles de Gaulle...
- Croix de la Valeur militaireCroix de la Valeur MilitaireThe Croix de la Valeur Militaire is a military decoration of France that recognizes individual holding a mention in Dispatches earned in theaters of operations which are not subject to the award of the Croix de guerre....
with seven citations - Croix du combattantCroix du combattantThe Croix du combattant is a French decoration that recognizes, as its name implies, those who fought in combat for France.-History:...
- Overseas MedalOverseas MedalThe Overseas Medal is a commemorative or campaign medal issued to members of the French Armed Forces for participating in operations outside national territory...
- Médaille de la Défense nationaleMédaille de la Défense nationaleThe Médaille de la Défense nationale is a French military decoration. It was created by Charles Hernu, Minister of Defense and established by the decree of April 21, 1982. It rewards particularly honorable service rendered to the military for their participation in operational activities...
(National Defence Medal) (bronze) - Médaille de reconnaissance de la NationMédaille de reconnaissance de la NationThe Medaille de Reconnaissance de la Nation is a French honor medal created 12 April 2002 awarded to both the military and civilians.-Eligibility:...
- Médaille commémorative françaiseMédaille commémorative françaiseThe French military campaign decoration or Médaille commémorative française is an award that is intended to distinguish the civilians and soldiers who took part in missions carried out outside of French national territory after March 1, 1991...
- Croix de la bravoure militaire (Zaire)
- United Nations MedalUnited Nations MedalThe term United Nations Medal refers to one of several international decorations which are issued by the United Nations to the various militaries of the world for participation in joint international military and police operations such as peacekeeping, humanitarian efforts, and disaster relief...
for former YugoslaviaFormer YugoslaviaThe former Yugoslavia is a term used to describe the present day states which succeeded the collapse of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.... - NATO MedalNATO MedalThe NATO Medal is an international military decoration which is awarded to various militaries of the world under the authority of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization . It is manufactured by Eekelers - Centini, International, of Hemiksem, Belgium...
for former Yugoslavia - Inter-African Medal for the Protection of the Bangui Agreements