Jean-Paul Paloméros born August 13, 1953, in Paris, France is a retired French Air Force general known for his distinguished service in both national defense and NATO leadership.

He served as the Chief of Staff of the French Air Force from 2009 to 2012, overseeing strategic modernization efforts. In 2012, he was appointed as Supreme Allied Commander Transformation at NATO, making him the first French officer to hold this position since France’s reintegration into NATO’s military command structure. He served in this role until 2015.

Paloméros began his career after graduating from the French Air Force Academy in 1973. As a fighter pilot, he accumulated more than 4,000 flying hours, including 82 combat missions in various conflict zones such as Chad, the Balkans, and Libya.

For his exceptional service, he has received several honors, including:

• Grand Officer of the Legion of Honour
• Grand Cross of the National Order of Merit
• Aeronautics Medal

Since his retirement, he has remained active in strategic advisory roles, particularly in areas related to defense innovation and cybersecurity. He also serves as Vice Chairman of the French-American Foundation – France, promoting transatlantic dialogue.