Chief of Defence Staff pays a visit to CAOC Torrejón

• This is admiral López Calderón's first visit to CAOC TJ since his appointment as CHOD

Chief of Defence Staff (JEMAD in spanish), admiral general Teodoro López Calderón, visited Combined Air Operations Centre Torrejón (CAOC TJ) this Friday.

During the visit, CHOD was briefed by CAOC commander, lieutenant general Fernando de la Cruz Caravaca, on the Unit's mission and its operational situation in the area of responsibility. general de la Cruz also highlighted the commitment and effort that Spain makes hosting this Centre, where some 120 Spanish military personnel serve both the CAOC TJ itself, as well as the National Support Element (NSE) and the NATO Communications and Information Agency (NCIA) Unit that permanently supports the CAOC.

CAOC TJ, under the direct command of a Spanish Lieutenant General, is the only NATO Command Structure (NCS) headquarters in Spain, and its main mission is to plan, direct, coordinate, supervise, analyse and report on air defence operations in southern Europe, following directives of NATO's air component.

Currently under the leadership of Allied Air Command (AIRCOM), Ramstein, Germany, CAOC TJ exercises operational control of the Air Force detachment at the Romanian Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base near Constanta in the framework of NATO's Air Policing (eAP) misión.