PARIS -- The Air Force Office of Special Investigations and the French Air and Space Gendarmerie recently completed liaison engagements in Tahiti and Paris, focusing on military exercise preparation and aircraft mishap investigations, strengthening interoperability between the two longtime allies, officials said.
The engagements brought together U.S. and French investigators, law enforcement professionals and aviation experts to exchange best practices, improve coordination and build relationships that could support future operations in the Pacific and Europe.
In Tahiti, members of AFOSI’s 13th Field Investigations Squadron met with their French counterparts to discuss investigative and force protection support for multinational military exercises in the Pacific.
The discussions focused on preparing for joint and combined exercises, identifying investigative requirements and sharing approaches for supporting commanders and protecting personnel and resources before and during large-scale operations.
According to Special Agent Brian Watson, strategic plans and program manager at AFOSI 5th Field Investigations Region, the engagement also provided both organizations an opportunity to better understand one another’s capabilities, procedures and responsibilities in an increasingly complex operating environment.
Meanwhile, in Paris, the focus shifted to military aircraft mishap investigations.
Hosted by Brigadier General Jérôme Bisognin, Commander of the French Air and Space Gendarmerie, the workshop was held at French Air Base 107 in Vélizy-Villacoublay. The U.S. delegation, led by Special Agent in Charge Jacqueline Calbi, AFOSI Detachment 538, U.S. Embassy Paris, brought together investigators and safety experts from both nations.
Key participants included representatives from the Paris Prosecutor's Office for Military Affairs, the French State Aviation Accident Investigation Bureau, and the National Gendarmerie’s forensic science laboratory.
During the event, they discussed procedures for preserving crash sites, conducting forensic examinations and coordinating the legal and investigative responsibilities that can accompany military aviation incidents.
According to Calbi, these exchanges helped specialists from both countries to compare techniques and identify areas where closer coordination could improve future responses, particularly when incidents involve personnel, aircraft or jurisdictions from more than one nation.
“Interoperability was a key focus of both engagements,” Calbi said. “Understanding each other’s authorities, capabilities and investigative processes before a crisis occurs helps reduce friction and allows us to respond faster and more effectively together.”