First woman appointed general of French gendarmerie

The French gendarmerie has appointed its first woman
general after the cabinet on Wednesday approved the promotion of
Isabelle Guion de Meritens, dpa reported.
The 50-year-old, who is now one of about 50 generals in France,
will command the Gendarmerie maritime, or national coastguard, with
about 1,100 officers under her command.
Government spokeswoman Najat Vallaud-Belkacem hailed the promotion
as a "historic decision."
The more than 100,000 personnel of the Gendarmerie Nationale, part
of the armed forces but under the Interior Ministry, work alongside
the national police to secure public safety.