Pattern Traps: Safety of Escalation
ABCD 2026
Sébastien Vallette
Deputy Director-General for International Relations and Strategy at the French Ministry of the Armed Forces
Lieutenant General Sébastien Vallette joined the French Air Force Academy at Salon-de-Provence in 1993. Following training at the Fighter School in Tours and the Fighter Squadron 1/8 in Cazaux, he was assigned as a Flight Officer to the Fighter Squadron 1/12 'Cambrésis'. As an operational combat pilot, he took part in Operation Trident in Kosovo in 1999 and deployed twice to Saudi Arabia for Operation Alysse. Appointed Commanding Officer of the SPA 162 'Tiger' squadron and Deputy Chief of Operations, he was promoted to Major (OF-3) that year. In 2005, he joined the Air Force Information and Public Relations Department in Paris as Head of the Editions Department and Editor of 'Air Actualités', before attending the 15th class of the French War College. Promoted to Lieutenant Colonel (OF-4), he returned to the Fighter Squadron 1/12 'Cambrésis' as Second in Command, commanded the French battlegroup in Lithuania for the Baltic Air Policing mission and took command of the squadron. Promoted to Colonel (OF-5), he joined the French Defence Staff in 2014 as deputy chief of staff to the Chief of the Defence Staff, then commanded Airbase 705 in Tours. After senior courses at the Centre for Higher Military Studies and the Institute for Higher National Defence Studies, he became chief of staff of the Chief of the Air Staff in 2020. Promoted to Brigadier General (OF-6) in 2023, he served a year in Iraq as National Operational Representative for Operation 'Chammal' and Director of Civil-Military Actions for Operation Inherent Resolve. He took command of the French Forces in Djibouti, was promoted to Major General (OF-7) in 2025, and was appointed Deputy Director-General for International Relations and Strategy, and promoted to Lieutenant General (OF-8), in 2026. He holds the Legion of Honour, the National Order of Merit, the Cross of Military Value, and the Aeronautical Medal.
Updated: September 9, 2026