General of the French Air and Space Force Frédéric Parisot is to become the new managing director of the French Aerospace Industries Association (GIFAS) from 1 August 2023, the association announced on 7 June 2023.
He will replace Pierre Bourlot, who originally took up the position in 2012 and is now set to retire on 1 August.
Parisot joined GIFAS on 15 May 2023 amid preparations for the 54th Paris Air Show, which is set to be held at Le Bourget airport from 19 to 25 June.
As a former student of the Ecole de l’Air (France’s air and space military school) and former auditor for France’s Institute for Advanced Studies in National Defence (IHEDN), Parisot has logged over 3,000 flying hours, including 2,400 hours aboard Mirage 2000 and F/A-18 fighters, and has participated in 81 combat sorties over hostile territory.
After taking on several operational roles, he became Deputy Head of Office for the French Military Programming Law within the Financial Affairs Directorate of France’s Ministry of Defence in 2001. He then went on to become the Military Assistant to the Chief of Staff of the French Air Force in 2004.
From 2011 to 2013 Parisot acted as a rapporteur, affiliated to France’s Defence Staff, in the context of the Commission for France’s 2013 White Paper on Defence and National Security. Then, from 2013 to 2017, he assumed the role of Air Deputy to the Chief of Military Staff of the French President.
In 2017 Parisot was appointed Director of Civil-Military Co-operation and Chief French Representative for Operation ‘Inherent Resolve’ within the framework of France’s Operation ‘Chammal’ in Iraq. In 2018 he became Deputy Chief of Procurement and Future Requirements for France’s Air and Space Force Staff.
Parisot is an Officer of the National Order of the Legion of Honour, a Commander of the National Order of Merit and holds the Cross of Military Valour and the Aeronautical Medal.
In 2021 he was promoted to the rank of major general in the French Air and Space Force.
Peter Felstead