Jean-Yves Le Gall is an engineer and scientist whose career spans more
than 40 years devoted to shaping and leading space programmes in
France, Europe and around the world. He continues to contribute to several
international bodies working in the realms of space and high tech.
From 2013 to 2021, he was President of the French space agency Centre National d’Etudes
Spatiales (CNES), Chair of the Council of the European Space Agency (ESA), Chair of the
Administrative Board of the European GNSS Agency (GSA) in charge of Galileo and President of
the International Astronautical Federation (IAF). He previously held posts within the French national
scientific research agency CNRS, at several French ministries, and at Novespace, Starsem and then
Arianespace, where he was CEO from 2001 to 2013.

He is a member of the International Academy of Astronautics (IAA) and of the French Academy of
Technologies. In 2001, he received the Astronautics Prize from the French Association of
Aeronautics and Astronautics (AAAF). He was named Via Satellite magazine’s 2005 Satellite
Executive of the Year and received a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2007 from the Asia-Pacific
Satellite Communications Council (APSCC). In 2011 he was inducted into the Hall of Fame of the
Society of Satellite Professionals International (SPPI) and awarded the Icarus Prize from the French
association of professional aerospace journalists (AJPAE). In 2014 he was distinguished with a
Laureate Award from Aviation Week & Space Technology magazine, in 2018 the California Institute
of Technology (Caltech) presented him with the International von Kármán Wings Award, in 2021 he
received the IAF Excellence in International Cooperation Award and in 2024 he awarded the
International Cooperation Award from the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA).
Jean-Yves Le Gall holds the ranks of Commander of the Legion of Honour and Commander of the
National Order of Merit. He has also been awarded the Order of Friendship by the Russian
Federation, the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star, by the Government of Japan, and the
Chinese Government Friendship Award. He is Doctor Honoris Causa of Technion, the Israel Institute
of Technology.