I met Mr Bergès (Project Manager, Former Test Pilot), at the end of the 1980's, at Aérospatiale (now EADS), where I was working on the hardening (protection against electromagnetic and nuclear effects) of strategic and space systems.
After the work on S3 missile and ground hardening (Plateau d'Albion), Mr Bergès was put in charge of a summary of work on the vulnerability of the whole S3 system, against nuclear effects. Operation safety against aggressive environments, the interests of the nation and mankind were for him a major preoccupation and a worry which he took on board, both on the technical and the operational level at the SEE upon his retirement. This summarising work led him discreetly and devotedly to encourage all those who, like him, held the public's best interest at heart.
In the nuclear field and in particular with regard to proliferation, his strongest action went as far as supporting the presentations leading to the fall of the Berlin Wall, notably in front of the ORSEC plan commission on the EMNI (Electromagnetic Nuclear Impulsion) risk due to the proliferation of nuclear arms (April 1996), which concluded on the organisational needs to be taken into account and managed with minimum risk costs.
In the field of systems and lightning installation protection, his action was very closely linked to studies being carried out, grouping together industrialists and major laboratories (G2P, Thales, ONERA) working on the vulnerability of propellants until quite recently, he took part in the work carried out by the SEE's Technical Committee 44 (Lightning), and in this capacity he co-signed several articles which appeared in the REE (Revue de l'Electricité et de l'Electronique), thus providing at the same time a contribution towards the elaboration of a "Lightning Protection Installation Guide" by the STBFT.
In the EMC hardening field, his permanent support encouraged the installation of the SEE's Sub-Committee 17.50 specialising in the vulnerability of electronic components against electromagnetic aggression. Since 1995, he has worked regularly for the EMC sessions held as part of the ETTC conference, at which I have watched him defend the interests of the SEE. He has regularly participated in the preparation of numerous REE issues dealing with specialist EMC features.
It is impossible for me to write this without including a reminder of the events which, due to Jean-Marie Bergès' efforts, brought together top engineering schools and top-notch industrialists such as Arts & Métiers and THALES, to name but a couple.
J.M. Bergès passed away on 6 October 2005. He was always cheerful, watchful of the future with a love of sharing. His devotion to his work led him to collaborate right up to his last days with those who appreciated him in our shared scientific environment.
Christian Carel