Deputy Commanding General
French Senior National Representative
Major General Philippe SOMMAIRE was born in Nevers, on 15 January 1950. Having accomplished officer education and training at Saint-Cyr Military Academy, Class Général de Gaulle (1970-72), he entered the Air Defense artillery.
His officer career includes operational assignments as well as functions in the field of studies and concepts in the Central Administration.
From 1973 to 1976, as a Lieutenant, he served with 51st Artillery Regiment stationed in Bitburg, Germany, followed by a two-year assignment as an instructor at the Air Defense Artillery School in Nîmes.
From 1978 to 1981, on promotion to Captain, he assumed the command of a battery within 54th Artillery Regiment, Verdun. The following year he attended the Staff Officer course before returning to Saint-Cyr/Coëtquidan Military Academy where he was entrusted with the management of the Finance department.
From 1982 to 1986, having passed the Professional Military Education Competitive Examination, he attended training at the Advanced National School of Technology and a special course on missiles before joining first the War College and then the Joint Defense College. This series of training courses and studies was completed by a nine-month proficiency training period at MATRA Defense Company. He holds a Master degree in Science and Mechanical Engineering.
From 1987 to 1989, he was assigned to 51st Artillery Regiment in Wittlich, Germany, as Chief Operations (S3).
In 1989, having been posted to the Army Staff, Lieutenant Colonel SOMMAIRE was program manager for the ‘Orchidée-Horizon’ heliborne battlefield surveillance radar system and the CL 289 and BREVEL drones, which was followed by an assignment as deputy to the officer responsible for the joint Helios surveillance satellite program.
After promotion to Colonel in 1992, he took over the command of 53rd Artillery Regiment in Vieux-Brisach (Germany), from where he was posted to the Joint Staff in 1994, where he had the task to monitor projects concerning Eurocorps, the Western European Union and the forces under its responsibility.
From 1996 to 1997, he attended courses at the Center for Senior Military Studies and the College of Defense Studies, 49th national session. Back again in the Joint Staff, he was responsible for the studies in the ‘Policy and Military Strategy’ department.
On 1 July 2000, as a Brigadier General, he took over the command of the Artillery Brigade in Haguenau.
In spring 2002 he was appointed Commanding General of the Multinational Division South East in Bosnia-Herzegovina.
On 1 January 2003, he was assigned to the CFAT (the French Land Forces Command) in Lille as Deputy to the Commander-in-Chief of the Land Forces. Having been promoted to Major General he was then in charge of combat support, especially third-dimension coordination, air defense and fire support.
On 1 July 2005, he took over the command of Force Headquarters No. 1 located in Besançon. He was also Garrison Commander and Military Sub-District Representative for the County of Doubs. During the first semester of 2006 he and his staff deployed to Kosovo where he acted as KFOR Deputy Commander and French National Representative.
On 1 September 2007 he was appointed Deputy Commander of the EUROCORPS in Strasbourg.
Major General SOMMAIRE is "Officier de la Légion d'Honneur", "Chevalier de l'Ordre National du Mérite", holder of the "Croix de la Valeur Militaire" with citation, Commander of the Italian National Order of Merit and holder of the NATO Medal and the UN Medal.
He is married and has two sons.
