Vice-admiral d'escadre de Chargères at the head of the FAN
Vice-admiral d'escadre Stanislas de Chargères took command of the Force d’Action Navale, succeeding Admiral Christophe Cluzel.
Vice-admiral d'escadre (VAE) Stanislas de Chargères took over his duties as admiral commanding the Force d’Action Navale (ALFAN) and the force aéronavale nucléaire (FANu), during a ceremony on September 1st.
The event was held on the deck of the bâtiment ravitailleur de forces (BRF) Jacques Stosskopf, the logistical flagship of the fleet, docked at the naval base of Toulon. The ceremony was presided over by Admiral Christophe Cluzel, who commanded the Force d’Action Navale from 2023 to 2026 before being appointed chef d’État-major de la Marine (CEMM) on July 15th.
Before the handover, VAE de Chargères conducted a review of the FAN vessels moored at the quay, in the presence of numerous civil and military authorities. This was an opportunity to pay tribute to vice-amiral Pierre-Yves Grente, organic deputy in Toulon of ALFAN, who made his farewell to arms.
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After 38 years in the service of the Marine nationale, he received the officer insignia of the ordre du Mérite maritime, marking the end of a career dedicated to the institution and its sailors.
A force of more than 10,500 sailors
As ALFAN, VAE de Chargères becomes responsible for the preparation and training of more than 10,500 sailors, as well as the technical availability of a fleet of nearly 100 surface ships.
This force includes three mine clearance diver groups, four centers of expertise, the flottille amphibie and the prestigious Force aéronavale nucléaire organized around the aircraft carrier.
The mission of the Force d’Action Navale is to permanently provide the naval assets necessary for military operations conducted by France, from the bases of Toulon, Brest, Cherbourg and overseas territories. In the coming weeks, the new commander will carry out a tour of the ports of Cherbourg and Brest to meet the crews and local maritime authorities.
A career marked by operational theaters
Married and father of four, Vice-admiral d'escadre Stanislas de Chargères, who entered the École Navale in 1992, has a career rich in operational experience. After assignments on nuclear attack submarines and frigates, he participated in major missions such as SHARP GUARD in the Balkans, HERAKLES off Pakistan, or LICORNE in Côte d’Ivoire.
He has commanded several vessels, including the patrol boat Athos, the surveillance frigate Vendémiaire in Nouvelle-Calédonie, and the porte-hélicoptères amphibie (PHA) Mistral. It was at the helm of the latter that he ensured command of the Jeanne d’Arc mission in 2017, asserting French presence in the Indian and Pacific Oceans.
His career has led him to strategic posts within the État-major des armées, notably at the Centre de planification et de conduite des opérations (CPCO), of which he was appointed head in August 2025. Promoted to Vice-admiral d'escadre on August 1st, 2026, he is an officer of the Légion d’honneur and the ordre national du Mérite.
Article from the print edition of La Gazette du Var