The French government has promoted Professor of French John C. O'Neal to the rank of commandeur in the Ordre des Palmes Académiques (the Order of the French Academic Palms), the highest rank in this order, founded by Napoleon in 1808.
O'Neal was first named a chevalier (or knight) in 1998, then promoted to officier in 2007. His certificate from the French embassy for cultural affairs in New York City mentions that this recognition comes for "services rendered to French culture."
