At 42 years old, Colonel Benoît Taponat succeeds Sébastien Thomas as the head of the Alpes-Maritimes gendarmerie group. With a rich career, the Saint-Cyr graduate has already demonstrated his commitment within the departmental gendarmerie.
At only 42 years old, Benoît Taponat has already climbed numerous ranks within the departmental gendarmerie. A Saint-Cyr graduate, he began his career as the deputy commander of the Romorantin-Lanthenay company, in the Loir-et-Cher region. This initial experience immersed him in the realities on the ground and allowed him to develop his command method.
A career rich in responsibilities
Building on this initial experience, he was quickly entrusted with more strategic missions. He was then appointed as a mission officer alongside the “Gendarmerie” advisor to the Minister of the Interior. This role broadened his horizons and allowed him to gain a more comprehensive view of the functioning of law enforcement agencies. This mission within the ministry marked a significant turning point in his career.
Subsequently, Benoît Taponat continued his ascent by taking command of the Belley company, in the Ain department. Following this stage, he joined the War College, a prestigious training reserved for high-potential officers. There, he specialized in planning and conducting operations.
After successfully completing his time at the War College, he was appointed as “operations-deployment” advisor in the office of the Director General of the National Gendarmerie. This position allowed him to actively participate in the strategic deliberations of the gendarmerie. Additionally, it enabled him to gain valuable expertise in the organization of forces on the national territory.
An international commitment
In 2019, he became the deputy commander of the gendarmerie in French Polynesia. For three years, he faced challenges of international scope in an island environment with specific issues. His time in Polynesia allowed him to further strengthen his operational skills.
This experience in Polynesia served as a springboard for his return to mainland France, where he once again joined the office of the Director General of the Gendarmerie. There, he assumed high-level responsibilities in internal transformation and strategic project management. Benoît Taponat distinguished himself with his methodical approach and constant effort to improve the performance of the teams under his responsibility.
September 2024 marks a new chapter for Benoît Taponat. He officially succeeds Colonel Sébastien Thomas as the head of the Alpes-Maritimes gendarmerie group. Meanwhile, Sébastien Thomas, who is now the deputy director of administration and finances at the General Directorate of the Gendarmerie in Paris, leaves behind a solid track record.
