Corps of Bridges, Waters and Forests


The Corps des ponts, des eaux et des forêts is a technical Grand Corps of the French State. Its members are senior officials, mainly employed by the French Ministry of Environment and Energy and by the Ministry of Agriculture. Most of them are from École polytechnique, where they are selected based on their ranking, and from AgroParisTech where they are selected based on an entrance exam, others are from École normale supérieure or the regular curriculum of the École des ponts ParisTech.
People entering the Corps are trained either at AgroParisTech, École des ponts ParisTech or abroad in specific fields, in particular when they are willing to pursue a PhD.
In 2002, the Corps des ponts et chaussées, and the different corps formed by the civil aviation engineers, the geography engineers and the meteorological engineers merged.
In 2009, the Corps des ponts et chaussées and the Corps du génie rural, des eaux et des forêts merged into the current Corps des ponts, des eaux et des forêts.
Many executive positions in France's industries and administration are held by Corps des Ponts engineers. Being admitted to the Corps des Ponts program is still considered a significant fast-track for executive careers.

Important former or current members