Thierry Burkhard

Thierry Burkhard
General Burkhard in 2024
Chief of the Defence Staff
In office
22 July 2021 – 1 September 2025
Preceded byFrançois Lecointre
Succeeded byFabien Mandon
Chief of Staff of the French Army
In office
31 July 2019 – 21 July 2021
Preceded byJean-Pierre Bosser
Succeeded byPierre Schill
Personal details
BornThierry Marcel Ernest Burkhard
(1964-07-30) 30 July 1964
Military service
AllegianceFrance
Branch/serviceFrench Army
Years of service1989–2025
RankArmy General
CommandsChief of the Defence Staff
Chief of Staff of the French Army
Inspector of the French Army
Centre for Planning and Execution of Operations
13th Demi-Brigade of the Foreign Legion
Battles/warsGulf War (Opération Daguet)
UNPROFOR (Bosnian War)
First Ivorian Civil War (Opération Licorne)
ISAF
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Thierry Marcel Ernest Burkhard (French pronunciation: [tjɛʁi byʁkaʁ]; born 30 July 1964) is a French Army general who served as Chief of the Defence Staff from 22 July 2021 to 1 September 2025. Prior to his appointment to the top post, Burkhard served as Chief of Staff of the French Army from 2019 to 2021 and Inspector of the French Army from 2018 to 2019.

As an officer, Burkhard was deployed overseas in a variety of missions. He served in the 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment (2e REP) and held command of the 13th Demi-Brigade of the Foreign Legion (13e DBLE) in Djibouti.