 With the change in government in 1995, he was named by defense minister Charles Millon to represent the defense department overseas.In 1997, he was named president of the International Defense Counsel, a company 50% supported by the Ministry of Defense with a mission of consulting on the use of French weapons in countries employing French defense systems.He was elected mayor of Grignan in the Drôme in 1995 and was reelected in 2001 and 2008.