Alumnus of the French National School for Public Works (École nationale des travaux publics de l'État), Christian Leyrit is a civil and structural engineer (École nationale des Ponts et chaussées – École des Ponts Paris Tech). From 1989 to 1999, he was Director of Roads at the ministry of Equipment. He was then departmental and regional prefect (1999-2004: Charente-Maritime, 2004-2007: Val-d’Oise, 2007-2008: Corsica, Corse-du-Sud, and 2008-2010: Basse-Normandie, Calvados). In 2010, he was appointed vice-president of the General Council of the Environment and Sustainable Development and head of the Corps of Engineers. Nowadays, he is the President of the French National Commission for Public Debate.