PARIS — Laurent Collet-Billon has ended his term as chief of the French weapons procurement office, the defense ministry said in a statement.

"Florence Parly, minister of the armed forces, expressed her gratitude and that of the ministry to Laurent Collet-Billon, who today ends his mandate as head of the Direction Générale de l'Armement," the ministry said in a June 30 statement.

In his nine years as DGA head, Collet-Billon had the task of equipping the French forces, preparing for the future and developing the industry, the ministry said. "He performed these missions with a sharp sense of service to the government and the highest interest of France," the ministry said.

Collet-Billon dedicated more than 40 years to the defense of the nation, arms programs and technology, the ministry said. The outgoing DGA chief specialized in innovation in communications systems, satellites and nuclear deterrents.

The DGA and its staff play a key role in strengthening the defense of the nation, the ministry said.

A change at the head of the procurement office follows a deep political shift, as presidential and parliamentary elections returned independent centrist Emmanuel Macron as head of state and Edouard Philippe as prime minister.

Parly took up office as the armed forces minister on June 21.

DGA deputy head Vincent Imbert has temporarily stepped up to hold the top post, a spokeswoman for the procurement office said.

Two senior DGA officials, Caroline Laurent and Monique Legrand-Larroche, are reported to be candidates to head the DGA, Secret Defense blog reported.

The DGA manages an estimated €10 billion (U.S. $11.4 billion) of arms procurement a year, working with the services and industry to draw up requirements and manage the programs. The office plays a major role in weapons exports.

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