NATO Supreme Allied Commander in Europe presents the 'Meritorious Service Medal' to a Spanish Army general

• The medal, presented to general Lanchares, before his relief, acknowledge his outstanding leadership, professionalism, integrity and commitment

Major general Luis Lanchares Dávila, head of the Strategic Enablement Directorate (STREN) at the Supreme Headquarters of the Allied Powers in Europe (SHAPE), in Mons (Belgium) has been presented the 'Meritorious Service Medal' from General Tod D. Wolters (Supreme Command of the Alliance in Europe - SACEUR) in recognition of his outstanding leadership, professionalism, integrity and commitment to his duties.

During tough circumstances, general Lanchares has led the fight  against the COVID-19 pandemic at SHAPE, a military compound where roughly 15,000 people work and live together.

In his position as Head of the Directorate, in the last three years, general Lanchares has been responsible at the strategic level for the implementation of 'Enablement' in the SACEUR area of ​​operations, included in the concept of defense and deterrence in the Euro-Atlantic area. He has also led the implementation of the adaptation of NATO's command structure, as well as the implementation in the allied command of operations of the new governance model for resource management.

Once the tenure of General Lanchares as Chief of the Directorate ended, he has handed over to Major General Raimundo Rodríguez Roca, on a HOTO ceremony chaired by SHAPE's Deputy Chief of Staff.