Thomas Puga, new commanding officer of the Charles-de-Gaulle

Under the command of CV Georges-Antoine, the Charles-de-Gaulle participated in two significant operational deployments over the past 24 months. In the spring of 2024, the carrier strike group (GAN) was deployed in the Central Mediterranean for the AKILA mission, aimed at reinforcing NATO's defensive and deterrent posture. During this mission, the aircraft carrier was placed under NATO operational control for the first time, to conduct surveillance and reconnaissance missions as part of the NEPTUNE STRIKE activity.

CLEMENCEAU 2025

From November 2024 to April 2025, the GAN was deployed as part of the CLEMENCEAU 25 mission, which aimed to strengthen cooperation with France's allies and partners, as well as to contribute to national and international operations in the Mediterranean, the Indian Ocean, and the Pacific. The presence of the GAN in the Indo-Pacific region for two months marked a first for the group, which conducted numerous unprecedented activities in the region. Born on June 10, 1980, CV Thomas Puga entered the École navale in 2000. After his application cruise in 2003, he chose to serve in the Aéronavale. He completed his pilot training at the école de l'aéronautique navale de Salon-de-Provence in 2004. Certified as an E-2C Hawkeye airborne early warning and control aircraft pilot, he was assigned to the Flottille 4F in 2007. He then participated in all deployments of the aircraft carrier, notably during operations in Afghanistan and Libya. In 2012, he served as a class director at the École navale for two years before returning as executive officer of the Flottille 4F. He then participated in the ARROMANCHES 1 deployment and operations in Iraq. He subsequently took command of the Flottille 4F in 2015 and participated in the ARROMANCHES 2 and 3 deployments in Iraq and Syria aboard the aircraft carrier. Following his studies at the École de Guerre, he joined the Direction du personnel de la Marine (DPM) as manager for naval aviation officer personnel. In 2020, he was assigned to the aircraft carrier Charles-de-Gaulle as deputy commander of operations and participated in the CLEMENCEAU 21 mission. In September 2021, he completed the Navy nuclear officer qualification course (operations option) at the École d'application militaire de l'énergie atomique (EAMEA). In January 2022, he was appointed commander of the La Fayette-type frigate (FLF) Guépratte. In June 2023, he joined the staff of the chef d’État-major de la Marine (CEMM) as head of the strategy and policy office. CV Thomas Puga is married and the father of five children; he is a Chevalier of the Ordre de la Légion d'honneur and the Ordre national du Mérite.