Jean-Noël Picq is a senior French civil servant, noted for his influential contribution to the modernization of the State. A member of the Cour des comptes (the French Court of Audit), where he reached the rank of *conseiller maître*, his career has been dedicated to the reform of public administration. His most celebrated work is the 1994 report, commonly known as the "Picq Report," entitled *L'État en France: servir une nation ouverte sur le monde*. This document was a milestone in the debate on the need for a more efficient, decentralized, and citizen-oriented state apparatus, proposing structural reforms to adapt the administration to contemporary challenges. For his service and impact in the public sector, Picq has been awarded major honours, including Officer of the Legion of Honour and Commander of the National Order of Merit, distinctions that attest to his leading role in the recent history of French governance.