The scientific and technical community mourns the passing of Michel Henri Carpentier, engineer emeritus and former scientific and technical director of Thomson-CSF. Born on January 16, 1931, Mr. Carpentier passed away on December 3, 2023, leaving behind an exceptional legacy in the field of electronics and radar.
Michel Henri Carpentier made history in his early years, having brilliantly studied at Polytechnique in 1950, at the École nationale supérieure de l’aéronautique (ENSAé) in 1955, and at Supélec in 1956. His professional career began as an engineer at the Technical Service for Air Telecommunications (STTA) from 1956 to 1962, during which time he was recognized for his expertise as an international expert at the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) from 1962 to 1963.
His career at COTELEC (Components & Technologies for Electronics) as technical director from 1964 to 1966 was followed by a remarkable period at Thomson-CSF, where he held various positions of responsibility. As radar technical director from 1967 to 1973, he made a significant contribution to the development of radar technologies. Subsequently, as Technical Director of Thomson-CSF from 1975 to 1977, he continued to provide his expertise before becoming General Technical Director from 1978 to 1983.
He was a fellow of Air and Space Academy in 1990 and an honorary member of Section 1. His presidency of the Société de l’électricité, de l’électronique et des technologies de l’information et de la communication (SEE), at the Collège de Polytechnique, and the Ecole Nationale Supérieur d’Electronique et de Radioélectricité de Bordeaux (ENSERB) attests to his exceptional contribution to the education and training of future engineers.
Michel Henri Carpentier was awarded the National Order of Merit and received the Grand Prix de l’Électronique général Ferrié in 1969. In addition, he was honored as a Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and an Honorary Fellow of the Institution of Electrical Engineers (IEE) in Great Britain in 1993.
Dr. Carpentier’s legacy is not limited to his impressive career, but also extends to his scientific contributions. He has written such seminal works as “Radars, Modern Bases,” published in eleven versions, including two in English, one in Russian, and two in Chinese. His book “Le Radar” published by Presses Universitaires de France and “The Microwaves Engineering Handbook” published in 1992 are among the major references in the field.
Michel Henri Carpentier leaves behind an indelible legacy in the world of technology and engineering. His outstanding achievements will continue to inspire future generations and mark the evolution of electronic and radar technology. We extend our deepest condolences to his family and loved ones at this difficult time.
A tribute will be paid to him at a future session.
