André Lebeau

André Lebeau (March 4, 1932 – February 25, 2013) was a French aerospace engineer and administrator who served as the President of the National Center for Space Studies (CNES), Deputy Director General and Director of Programs at the European Space Agency, president of EUMETSAT, Vice President of World Meteorological Organization, and Director General of Météo-France. He authored several books on space and environmental topics. Lebeau received various honors including France's highest order of merit, Legion of Honour.

André Lebeau
Born	March 4, 1932 Montceau-les-Mines, France
Died	February 25, 2013 Clamart, France
Nationality	French
Alma mater	École Normale Supérieure
Known for	President of CNES, leadership in aerospace programs
Awards	Franck J. Malina Astronautics Medal Legion of Honour National Order of Merit
Scientific career
Fields	Aerospace engineering, meteorology
Institutions	CNES, Météo-France, ESA

Early life and education

Lebeau was born in Montceau-les-Mines, Saône-et-Loire. He studied at Lycée Saint-Louis before attending the École Normale Supérieure in Paris, where he received a degree in physical sciences in 1952. In 1956, he passed the agrégation examination in physical sciences. Lebeau received his doctorate in science in 1965.

Career

In 1958, Lebeau participated in the 2nd French Antarctic Expedition, supporting the construction of the Dumont d'Urville base during the International Geophysical Year. In 1961, he founded and directed the Ionospheric Research Group, a collaboration between telecommunications, geophysical, and scientific research organizations.

Lebeau joined the French space agency CNES in 1965 as Director of Programs and Planning. He later served as Deputy Director General for Industrial Policy Programs (1972–1975). He then worked at the European Space Agency from 1975 to 1980 as Deputy Director General and Director of Programs.

Roles

Position	Organization
Chair of Space Techniques and Programs	Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers
Director	National Meteorology Office
Director General	Météo-France
President	French Polar Expeditions
President	EUMETSAT Council
Vice President	World Meteorological Organization
President	National Center for Space Studies (CNES)

Honors and awards

Lebeau received various honors including:

• Franck J. Malina Astronautics Medal
• French National Order of Merit
• Legion of Honour

Publications

Lebeau was the author of several books on space and technology as well as environmental issues:

• Electric Currents in the Ionosphere of the Polar Regions, Ph.D. thesis, 1965.
• L'espace en héritage, Paris, éditions Odile Jacob, 1986.
• Lebeau (André) and Cohendet (Patrick), Strategic Choices and Major Civil Programs, Economica Editions, 1987.
• Lebeau (André) and Salomon (Jean-Jacques), L'écrivain public et l'informatique, Paris, Hachette, 1988.
• Space. Les enjeux et les mythes, Paris, Hachette, 1998.
• The gears of technology. Essai sur une menace planète, Paris, NRF-Gallimard, 2005.
• L'enconfinement planète, Paris, Gallimard, 2008.
• Les horizons terrestres: réflexions sur la survie de l'humanité, Paris, Gallimard, 2011.

He is also the author of important physics work on the upper atmosphere and geomagnetism.

Death

Lebeau died on February 25, 2013, in Clamart, France.

Bibliography

• Pierre Morel, "", L'Archicube, no. 15b, February 2014, p. 201-205 (read online | archive).
• Biographie André Lebeau Professeur honoraire au Conservatoire national des arts et métiers, Who's Who in France
• Gaubert (Alain), Entretiens avec André Lebeau, Chantilly, Tessier et Ashpool, 2013
• Laurec (Alain), Éloge du Professeur André Lebeau, Académie de Marine, Communications et mémoires, Année académique 2015–2016, n° 2 (January–March 2016), p. 17-24. Bureau of Longitudes

External links

• Legacy tribute on Bureau des Longitudes