Vice Admiral Jacques de Solms retired from the Société Nationale de Sauvetage en Mer (SNSM) at the beginning of October 2020, after a long and distinguished career in both the French navy and with SNSM.

In recognition of his service, he was awarded the Légion d’Honneur (the highest French order of merit) and holds the rank of Commander in the Ordre national du mérite (awarded by the President of France).

Jacques entered the French Naval Academy in 1975 and, after a first assignment in French Polynesia, he decided to serve in the French Navy Airforce, qualifying as both a fighter pilot and a helicopter pilot.

During his naval career, Jacques served in various operational roles in France and overseas, has held several NATO posts and has even served as Defence Attaché at the French Embassy in Madrid.

Jacques joined SNSM in 2013 as General Inspector for the Channel, North Sea and Overseas Territories, moving to become General Inspector for the Mediterranean Sea in 2015. 

Until his retirement, Jacques was also the official IMRF Contact for SNSM.  He has always been a great friend of the IMRF and was an enthusiastic supporter the Lifeboat Crew Exchange programme.

We wish him a long and happy retirement.

Photo from SNSM