Pierre Suleau, a humanist spirit at the naval base

Captain Pierre Suleau, in office for his eighth assignment, succeeds Rear Admiral Sébastien Rosier. Born on June 26, 1973, in Sainte-Foylès-Lyon, Pierre Suleau embodies a technical and military expertise combined with a deeply humanist vision. Entering the École navale in 1993 after scientific preparatory classes in a military high school, he has followed a path marked by prestigious missions. From the surveillance frigate (Ventôse) in the Caribbean to the nuclear submarine (Le Triomphant), by way of managing military workshops in La Réunion and holding high-responsibility positions within the nuclear fleet in Paris, his career is exemplary. Upon taking office in Toulon, Pierre Suleau expressed a clear and ambitious vision: "It is now up to us, together, to write our own history. My priority as commander will be the permanence of our action, the quality of technical, operational, and human support that we owe to the sailing units. Because that is indeed our mission. If there were no combat vessels in Toulon, there would be no naval base. It is for them that we are here." These words resonate as a call for unity and fraternity, core values in his philosophy of command in these times of growing division and international tension. "What is my state of mind in the current international context? Combativeness and confidence. We are living through a period of major change. The Chief of the Defence Staff recalled this in his assessment of the situation last June 17. War is back on European soil, competition between states is hardening, blocs are reforming. We are, above all, a combat navy." With the upcoming celebration of the 400th anniversary of the French navy, the new commander recalls the fundamental values that have always guided this institution: "Our beautiful and powerful navy will soon celebrate its 400th anniversary. It has navigated through all courses, all storms. Let us remember our motto: honor, fatherland, valor, and discipline." Pierre Suleau does not merely lead; he also inspires his teams to strive for excellence and personal fulfillment: "Act in an orderly fashion to succeed in our mission and, above all, to fulfill ourselves personally." He calls for audacity and pugnacity to constantly adapt to the operational needs of the navy. •

Knight of the Légion d’Honneur and Knight of the Ordre national du Mérite, Captain Pierre Suleau brings to Toulon a vision where operational excellence and respect for the human element go hand in hand. Under his command, the Toulon naval base is preparing to sail toward new horizons in a deeply changing world, remaining faithful to its traditions, its recognized expertise, and its spirit of cohesion.