Pierre Lacoste

Pierre Lacoste
Born(1924-01-23)23 January 1924
Paris, France
Died13 January 2020(2020-01-13) (aged 95)
Paris, France
AllegianceFrance
Service / branchFrench Navy
RankAdmiral

Pierre Lacoste (French pronunciation: [pjɛʁ lakɔst]; 23 January 1924 – 13 January 2020) was a French marine officer and government official.[1] He served as President of the Fédération des professionnels de l'intelligence économique in 2006.[2]

Biography

During World War II, Lacoste escaped German occupation and joined the Free French Forces in North Africa. He completed his education at the École Navale in 1946.

In 1975, Lacoste was appointed as Assistant Minister of Defense, with Yvon Bourges at the helm. The following year, he led the École supérieure de guerre navale. In 1978, he headed the military office of Prime Minister Raymond Barre. In 1980, Lacoste commanded the Mediterranean Squadron.

In 1982, Pierre Marion was dismissed as Director General of External Security by François Mitterrand.[3] Lacoste took his place. He held this position from 12 November 1982[4] to 19 September 1985.[5]

In 1985, Lacoste commanded the sinking of the Rainbow Warrior in New Zealand. Following this incident, Lacoste was dismissed as Director General.[6] He was succeeded by René Imbot.[7]

In 2005, Le Monde published a report on the Rainbow Warrior intended for the Minister of Defense André Giraud in which Lacoste recalls President Mitterrand giving the green light for the sinking.[8]

From 1986 to 1989, Lacoste presided over the Fondation des études de défense nationale. In 1989, he became President of the Défense - Armée - Nation Liaison of the Centre d'information civique. In 1993, he co-chaired the Centre d'études scientifiques de défense at the University of Paris-Est Marne-la-Vallée where he taught a seminar on "French intelligence culture." He also created the lesson "Strategic Intelligence, Risk Analysis, Territories", which still exists today.[9]

Awards

Publications

  • Stratégies navales du présent (1986)
  • Les mafias contre la démocratie (1992)
  • Un amiral au secret (1997)
  • Approches françaises du renseignement (1997)
  • Le renseignement à la française (1998)
  • Services secrets et géopolitique (2001)
  • Défense nationale et sécurité collective, actualisation et renouvellement de la pensée stratégique (2006)

References

  1. ^ "L'amiral Pierre Lacoste est mort". Le Figaro (in French). 13 January 2020.
  2. ^ "Amiral Lacoste : "les professionnels de l'IE doivent s'organiser"". Canalblog (in French). 22 April 2006. Archived from the original on 12 March 2007. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
  3. ^ Marion, Pierre (1999). Mémoires de l'ombre : Un homme dans les secrets de l'Etat (in French). Flammarion. ISBN 2-08-067692-X.
  4. ^ "Ministere de la Defense". Légifrance (in French). 14 November 1982.
  5. ^ "L'amiral Pierre Lacoste fédère la profession". Spyworld Actu (in French). 28 May 2005.
  6. ^ Favier, Pierre (1991). La décennie Mitterrand. 2, Les épreuves : 1984-1988 (in French). Editions Points. ISBN 9782757857991.
  7. ^ Siramy, Pierre (2010). 25 ans dans les services secrets (in French). Flammarion. ISBN 978-2-08-123261-7. OCLC 587016058.
  8. ^ "France : Le rapport secret de l'amiral Lacoste sur l'attentat contre le Rainbow Warrior". interet-general.info (in French). 9 July 2005. Archived from the original on 25 July 2017.
  9. ^ "Master 2 Intelligence Stratégique, Analyse des Risques et Territoires (ISART)". University of Paris-Est Marne-la-Vallée (in French). Archived from the original on 10 December 2018.