Major General Michel Stollsteiner was born in 1956. He entered the Saint-Cyr Military Academy in 1975. Upon completion of the Infantry School as an Airborne officer, he joined a paratrooper regiment.

Between 1991 and 1994, he was attending the German Führungsakademie in Hamburg and then the French Joint Staff College in Paris,

During his career, Major General Michel Stollsteiner had the following assignments:

1994-1996: 8th Marine's Airborne Regiment. Served as Chief Operations in Sarajevo (IFOR and SFOR) and in the Central African Republic,

1999-1999: French exchange officer in Bonn (Germany) within the Army Staff, in charge of robotics, force protection concept and digitalization,

1999-2001: Commanding the 8th Marine's Airborne Regiment, committed in Mitrovica/ Kosovo within the Multinational Brigade North,

2001 Land Force Command HQ in Lille: in charge of Army Training and Readiness,

2003 ( August to October ) : Auditor to the "Höhere Führung” seminar in Hamburg,

2004: Military assistant of the French Commander in Ivory Coast in 2004,

2004-2007: Army Staff in Paris responsible for Army contribution to operational commitments of FRA forces: Lebanon in 2006, Chad in 2007-2008, French reinforcement in Afghanistan in 2008, Ivory Coast and Army contribution to home security.

2008-2009: Commander of Regional Command Capital in Afghanistan for one year, and French Senior Representative for ISAF.

He had overseas tours for military assistance in former Zaire (1982-1984) and in La Reunion Island as Executive Officer of the French Commander in the Southern Indian Ocean.

The general's awards include Officer of the Legion of Honour, Officer of the National Order of Merit, and 3 recommendations.

He was promoted Brigadier in 2007 and Major General in 2009.

Major General Stollsteiner is married to Veronique and they have four sons.

Current as of 01 December 2009