NORFOLK, Va. - Gen. Jean-Paul Paloméros was confirmed by the North Atlantic Council as Supreme Allied Commander Transformation on Aug. 6, 2012, and assumed Command in Norfolk, Va., Sept. 28, 2012.
He joined the French Air Force Academy in 1973 and qualified as a fighter pilot in 1976. Throughout his career, he acquired extensive experience both as an operational commander and as a fighter pilot, having flown 82 combat missions and more than 3,500 flying hours - mostly on Mirage F1C and Mirage 2000 aircraft.
He commanded 2/12 Picardy Squadron in Cambrai, which he led for the Epervier operational deployment in Chad in 1987, and then the 30th Fighter Wing in Reims in 1990.
He was then appointed as commander of Cazaux Air Force Base from 1996 to 1998. This base hosts one the main French flight test centres, several advanced French flying training squadrons and a permanently stationed Singaporean training squadron.
Gen. Palomeros also has a diverse background in multinational operations and was deployed in Vicenza, Italy, in 1993 as deputy commander of the French Air Force during Operation Crecerelle, French participation in Operation Deny Flight, and then in Kiseljak, Bosnia-Herzegovina in 1995 where he was in charge of coordinating the air-ground campaign during Operation Deliberate Force.
He became the head of the Studies and Strategic Plans Department of the French Air Force staff in 1998. Promoted to brigadier general in 2001, he was appointed as chairman of the Capability Development Committee within the French Joint Staff and in August 2002 became the head of the Plans and Program Division.
In April 2005, he was appointed vice-chief of staff of the French Air Force. In this function, he developed and implemented the new organization named Air 2010. Promoted to general, he went on to serve as Air Force Chief of Staff from 2009 to 2012.
Gen. Palomeros graduated from the Royal Air Force Staff College, Bracknell, Great Britain, in 1993 where he was awarded the Curtis Prize by the chief of the air staff of Great Britain.
He was awarded the rank of grand officer of the French Legion of Honour in 2009. He is also an officer of the National Order of Merit and holds the Aeronautical Medal.
Married to Agnes and the father of five grown children and eight grandchildren, he regularly goes jogging and enjoys swimming, opera and poetry.
| Date Taken: |
09.28.2012 |
| Date Posted: |
09.28.2012 17:11 |
| Story ID: |
95477 |
| Location: |
NORFOLK, VIRGINIA, US |
| Web Views: |
409 |
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