August 1, 2018, General Denis Mistral became the new Commander of the French Foreign Legion. He replaced General Jean Maurin, a former Legion paratrooper, who spent long four years by heading this famous institution. Usually, the office is held for two years.

While the leaving General Maurin started his officer career right in the Legion and joined as a young Lieutenant the 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment (2e REP) in 1983 and spent eight years there, General Denis Mistral served as an officer in a French regular cavalry unit before joining the Legion.

Between 1993-98, Denis Mistral served as a platoon leader and a squadron commander within the 1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment (1er REC). He returned to the unit in 2003-05, as the chief of the 1er REC’s Operations Bureau. During 2009-11, he commanded the 4th Foreign Regiment (4e RE) in Castelnaudary.

The office of the Commander of the Legion was established in 1931. The Commander exercises supervision over the Legion. He reports directly to the Chief of Staff of the French Army and advises him on Foreign Legion matters. The office made part of the Foreign Legion Command (COMLE).

General Denis Mistral, the new chief of the Foreign Legion:

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