Major General of the Defence Staff (France)

Major General of the Defence Staff
Major général des armées
Insignia of the Armed Forces Staff
Incumbent Admiral Jean Casabianca since 1 September 2018
Ministry of the Armed Forces
Type	Part of a military staff
Abbreviation	M.G.A.
Member of	Chiefs of Staff Committee
Reports to	Chief of the Defence Staff
Seat	Hexagone Balard, Paris
Appointer	President of the Republic Requires the Prime Minister's countersignature
Term length	No fixed term
Formation	28 April 1948
First holder	Henri Zeller
Website	www.defense.gouv.fr

The Major General of the Defence Staff (French: Major Général des Armées, lit. 'Major General of the Armies', acronym: M.G.A.) is a high ranking general officer of the French Armed Forces and the deputy to the Chief of the Defence Staff. As such, it is the second highest position in the armed forces. Major Generals are nominated by the Minister of the Armed Forces and appointed by the Commander-in-Chief, the President of the French Republic. The designation of Major General is not indicative of any rank but is rather a position, as the most recent office holders were all four star generals (OF-9).