Vice Admiral  Eric Chaperon

Vice admiral Eric Chaperon joined the French Naval Academy in 1980. After his tour as a Midshipman onboard FS Jeanne d’Arc, he was appointed as the Gunnery Officer of FS PremierMaître l’Her, based in the Mediterranean Sea, then FS Commandant Blaison, based in the Pacific Ocean. Subsequently, he commanded the Naval Academy Training Ship FS Lynx in 1986.

He attended PWO course, specialising in Anti-Air Warfare, after which he received appointments onboard the frigates FS Amiral Charner and FS Georges Leygues between 1989 and 1991.

From 1991 to 1993, he was appointed as “Aide de Camp” to the French Secretary of Defence, in Paris. On completion, he was appointed to the Public Relations Department of the Ministry of Defence. During that period, he assumed responsibility for the promotion of “The Defence Spirit” in cooperation with the Ministries of Education and Culture. He also undertook a 6-month mission to Sajajevo as the UNPROFOR Commander’s Spokesman.

After commanding FS Amyot d’Inville from 1995 to 1996, he was appointed to the Operations Division of the Naval Staff in Paris, where he was responsible for the development of the CJTF concept. He completed the joint army college of defence in 1999.

After joining the Naval Action Force (FAN) in 1999, he was first appointed as the Ops Officer of the DDG, FS Jean Bart, then as the Senior Ops Officer of the French Carrier Battle Group during Operation Heracles in the Indian Ocean. His subsequent appointment was as the Head of Plans and Exercises Department at the ALFAN Staff HQ in Toulon and additionally from 2003 as Director of the EUROMARFOR Permanent Cell.

Between 2004 and 2006, he commanded the DDG, FS Cassard, based in Toulon.

From 2006 to 2009, he was appointed to the Directorate “Force Training & Readiness and Operational Policy” on the Chief of Defence Staff in Paris in which he was mainly responsible of management crisis, special forces, information operations and amphibious matters.

From August 2009 to February 2010, he attended the Senior Course of the NATO Defence College in Rome.

On completion, he returned to the Chief of Defence Staff, serving initially as the Deputy of the Directorate of Force Training & Readiness and Operational Policy then as a Special Adviser to the Directorate of Studies, Overall Co-ordination and Management, and finally as the Chief of the International Organisations Directorate.

From 2013 to 2016, he assumed the command of the French Maritime Reaction Force (COMFRMARFOR). As so, he commanded twice the French Carrier Strike Group in the Indian Ocean during operations Bois Belleau and Arromanches.

From September 2016 to August 2017, he assumed the duty of deputy to the Chief of Operations at the Joint Staff in Paris.

On 1st of September 2017 he was appointed as French Milrep to EU and NATO in Brussels.