Michel Stollsteiner

Michel Stollsteiner
Michel Stollsteiner in 2009
Born	(1956-01-26) 26 January 1956 (age 69) Soissons, France
Allegiance	French Army
Years of service	1975–2014
Rank	Général de corps d'armée
Commands	8e RPIMa
Battles / wars	War in Afghanistan
Awards	Officer of the Légion d'honneur

Michel Stollsteiner (born 26 January 1956 in Soissons, Aisne) is a retired French general. He was one of the five regional NATO commanders in Afghanistan, and was the highest-ranking French officer in Afghanistan between 6 August 2008 and 10 July 2009.

Career

Stollsteiner joined the army in 1975, taking part in numerous operations in Africa (ex-Zaire, Centrafrique, Chad, Côte d'Ivoire) and in the Balkans (Sarajevo, Mitrovica ^[1] ), as well as in Afghanistan.

From 6 August 2008 to 10 July 2009, Stollsteiner served as a NATO regional commander in Afghanistan, heading the Regional Command Capital at Camp Warehouse, under US generals David D. McKiernan and Stanley A. McChrystal. ^[2] He also served in the capacity of REPFRANCE, representing the french chief of defense staff in the Afghan theatre.

Stollsteiner supervised the sector where the Uzbin Valley ambush took place.

Honours

• Commander of the Légion d'Honneur
• Commander of the Ordre du Mérite

Notes and references

1. La plupart des gens désire le retour de la paix
2. ISAF Who's Who: Commander ISAF