Laura Chaubard appointed Director General at École Polytechnique

During the Council of Ministers meeting of October 5, 2022, Laura Chaubard (X99), Engineer General of Armaments, has been appointed Director General at École Polytechnique, effective immediately. She succeeds François Bouchet (X86), Engineer General of Armaments, senior class, who has been Director General of the Institution from January 1, 2017 to September 30, 2022. Laura Chaubard also joined the executive committee of Institut Polytechnique de Paris, which includes École polytechnique, ENSTA Paris, ENSAE Paris, Télécom Paris and Télécom SudParis.

After her studies at École Polytechnique, Laura Chaubard joined the Armament Corps and pursued a PhD in algorithmics at Paris Diderot University (Paris VII), focusing on the theory of formal languages from 2002 to 2006.

In September 2006, she joined the Directorate General of Armaments (DGA) where she held technical responsibilities for six years as an expert in big data and artificial intelligence, in particular for intelligence purposes. Between 2013 and 2016, she was the head of the strategic SMEs office in charge of identifying, accompanying and supporting the 600 French defence SMEs. From January to August 2017, still within the DGA, she was in charge of budgetary planning. There, she led the preparation of the 18-22 Military Programming Law, in a context of a historic increase in resources for the Ministry of the Armed Forces.

In August 2017, she was appointed Innovation and Digital Advisor in the cabinet of the Minister of the Armed Forces, Florence Parly. In particular, she successfully led the creation of the Defence Innovation Agency, the "Definvest" investment fund, the Directorate General for Digital Technologies, and the drafting of the "Artificial Intelligence" roadmap for the Ministry of the Armed Forces.

In October 2019, she joined Établissement Public du Parc et de la Grande halle de la Villette (EPPGHV) as Director General. She was responsible for coordinating the fifty or so performers present on site and for managing the multidisciplinary artistic programme hosted in the Grande Halle de la Villette, the park and the new "espace périphérique".

Laura Chaubard is also a Knight of the National Order of Merit and a Knight of the Legion of Honour.

"I am very pleased to welcome Laura Chaubard to École Polytechnique. Her commitment to the Ministry of the Armed Forces, her scientific background and her managerial experience will be important assets in leading the ambitious transformation initiatives of the School. I would like to thank François Bouchet for the remarkable work he has accomplished.  He has fully embraced the motto of l’X: ‘For Nation, for Sciences, and for Glory’, and he is leaving his mark on the development of École Polytechnique and Institut Polytechnique de Paris’ campuses," says Eric Labaye, President of École Polytechnique and Institut Polytechnique de Paris.

"I am very pleased to join École Polytechnique at a key moment in its development within IP Paris. Alongside Eric Labaye, I will strive to serve the general interest, which have guided my career for the past 20 years. I am looking forward to meeting students, researchers and employees of the School to continue the work accomplished by François Bouchet," says Laura Chaubard, the new Director General of l’X.