Stéphane Abrial

Stéphane Abrial
Général d'Armée Aérienne Stéphane Abrial, Commander Allied Command Transformation-NATO
Born	(1954-09-07) 7 September 1954 (age 62) Condom, Gers
Allegiance	France
Service/branch	French Air Force
Years of service	1976 – 2012
Rank	Général d'Armée aérienne
Commands held	Chief of Staff of the French Air Force (2006–2009) Allied Command Transformation (2009–2012)
Battles/wars	Gulf War
Awards	Grand Officer of the Legion of Honour Officer of the Order of National Merit Médaille de l'Aéronautique Commander of the Legion of Merit (United States) Grand Officer of the Order of Abdulaziz al Saud (Saudi Arabia) Grand Officer of the Order of Aeronautical Merit (Brazil)

Stéphane Abrial (French pronunciation: ​[abʁiɑl]), (born 7 September 1954 in Condom, Gers), is a French General who is the previous Commander of Allied Command Transformation based in Norfolk, VA, one of the two NATO strategic commands. His previous posting was as the Chief of Staff of the French Air Force.

General Stéphane Abrial graduated in 1973 from the French Air Force academy (École de l'air), and in 1974 from the U.S. Air Force Academy. He completed pilot training at the French Air Force Academy in 1976.

From 1977 to 1991, he served as a fighter pilot both in France (in Cambrai, Dijon and Orange) and, from 1981 to 1984, in a West German Luftwaffe unit. In 1988, he assisted the Greek Air Force in converting its first unit equipped with the Mirage 2000.

In 1991, he took part in the first Gulf War as a fighter pilot and commander of the French Air Force's 5th Fighter Squadron. Later that year, he attended the Air War College, at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama.

From 1992 to 1996, he served in the staffs of the French Air Force Chief of Staff and the Chief of Defense Staff. From 1996 to 1999, he served at NATO Headquarters, in Brussels. In 2000, he became deputy head of the French President's military staff, and in 2002 was appointed head of the French Prime Minister's military staff.