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Fabien Mandon
Chiefs of Defence
France
Sep 2025 - Present
France
Sep 2025 - Present
Married and father of three children, Fabien Mandon was born on 19th October 1969 in Montmorency (95).
He joined the class of 1990 of the Air Force Academy (“Lieutenant Poznanski”), and graduated as fighter pilot.
In 1994, he was posted to the 3/13 “Alsace” flight in Colmar, flying on Mirage F1CT. During this tour of duty, he participated in the air protection of the homeland and deployed six times in the framework of operations conducted in the Central African Republic and Chad. Promoted to Captain in 1996, he assumed command of the “Colmar” squadron in 1999.
Promoted to Major in 2001, he was assigned in Paris in 2002 as airspace advisor at the Delegation for Strategic Affairs (DAS).
He attended the Spanish War College in Madrid in 2004.
In 2005, after being promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel, he was assigned to Air Base 133 in Nancy-Ochey, within the 2/3 “Champagne” fighter squadron, flying on Mirage 2000D to command it. During these three years, he participated in operations in Afghanistan in 2006, before setting up the first detachment of French fighter aircraft in Kandahar in 2007.
In 2008, he was assigned to the Joint Staff / Plans before being promoted to Colonel in 2009. In the summer of 2011, he deployed with the NATO command of the Air component of Operation Unified Protector in Libya as deputy in charge of the campaign’s air strategy.
In 2012, he assumed command of Air Base 702 in Avord (a base with a nuclear vocation) and of the Bourges-Avord Defence Base.
In 2014, he attended the 64th class of the Higher Military Studies Centre and the 67th class of the National Institute for Higher Defence Studies.
He was assigned to the International Relations and Strategic Directorate, in charge of the Defence Ministry’s international relations with North-American, European and Russian countries as well as of the development of France’s position with NATO, the EU and the UN.
In July 2017, he was appointed “Air Deputy” to the Head of the French President’s private military staff. He was promoted to Brigadier General (Air) in June 2018.
In September 2019, he became head of “Capability coherence” at the Joint Staff, in charge of the French armed forces’ future equipment and capabilities.
On 1st September 2020, after having been promoted to Major General, he was selected to become head of the Armed Forces Minister’s Military Staff. He was promoted to Lieutenant General one year later.
On 1st May 2023, he became head of the President’s private military staff and promoted to General.
On 23rd July 2025, General (Air) Fabien Mandon was designated, during a Council of Ministers meeting, Chief of Defence as of 1st September 2025.
General Fabien Mandon has conducted 144 war missions. He is Commandeur of the Légion d’Honneur and Officier of the Ordre National du Mérite. He was awarded the Croix de la Valeur Militaire with two battle honours.