Spanish Armed Forces Intelligence Centre
The Spanish Armed Forces Intelligence Centre (CIFAS in Spanish) is the body responsible of obtaining for the Ministry of Defence (through the Chief of Defence Staff) and for the military authorities, the military intelligence needed to warn about situations of military concern with potential risk of external crisis that affect national defence. It is also in charge of giving the needed support to operations within its scope.
Likewise, it advises the Chief of Defence Staff and the Chiefs of Staff of the Army, Navy and Air Force on military counterintelligence and security affairs, within the scope of the Armed Forces, and contributes to provide strategic advice on military operations.
CIFAS is unique regarding military intelligence at the strategic level and is part of the intelligence community, being the only interlocutor of the Ministry of Defence in military intelligence matters in this field.
The Spanish Armed Forces Intelligence Centre is also in charge of the following tasks:
- Exploitation of joint intelligence, identification and surveillance systems, and coordination of the exploitation of specific systems of this kind.
- To provide Chiefs of Staff of the Army, Navy and Air Force with the intelligence required for development of the Force's training activities.
- To Plan, direct and, where appropriate, execute actions regarding cartography in the field of defence. To this end, the corresponding Units of the Army, air Force and Navy maintain functional dependence on the Centre.
He was Born at Línea de la Concepción, on 9th January 1963. He is married and has three children.
He was admitted into the General Military Academy (Zaragoza) in 1981 being commisioned as a 1st Lieutenant in 1986.
ASSINGMENTS:
His first posts as an Officer, both as Lieutenant and Captain, from 1986 and 1997, were in the Spanish Foreign Legion, at the 3rd Tercio “Juan de Austria”.
In 1993, he carried out his first international misión BEING part of the Spanish contingent within UNPROFOR in Bosnia Herzegovina. Subsequently, with different Officer ranks, he carried out missions both in Kosovo and in Afghanistan.
He was promoted to Major in 1998. After attending General Staff Course, he was assigned to the XII Armoured Brigade Headquarters.
Upon promotion to Lieutenant Coronel in 2006 he commanded the 6th Battalion of the Spanish Foreign Legion and was subsequently posted to the Office of the Chief of Staff of the Army.
He was promoted to Coronel in 2013, being appointed Commander of the Spanish Foreign Legion 3rd Tercio “Juan de Austria”. Subsequently, he was posted to the General Directorate of Defence Policy (DIGENPOL) of the Ministry of Defence, as Head of the NATO Area.
He was promoted to Brigadier General in 2017, being appointed as Commander of the BRILAT “Galicia” VII, in Pontevedra.
He was pointed Commander of the East Sector of the 30th Libre Hidalgo Operation (Lebanon), deployed in the region from 17th November 2018 to 22nd May 2019.
On 26th September 2019, he was appointed Director (DICIFAS) of the Spanish Armed Forces Intelligence Centre (CIFAS).
On 1st October 2019 he was promoted to Major General, holding his current position.
INTERNATIONAL PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS:
· “LIBRE HIDALGO”-LEBANON 2018
· OPERATION ISAF (AFGHANISTAN) 2008
· KSPAGT 2005
· UNPROFOR 1993
COURSES:
· GENERAL OFFICER COURSE
· NATO DEFENSE COLLEGE {NADEFCOL)
· NATO LOGISTIC (NLC)(GERMANY)
· BATTLE TANK-SPECIALIST COMMANDER
· ARMY STAFF
· TRAINING- PROMOTION TO MAJOR ESUP
· PARATROPPER OFFICERS COURSE
· BATTLE TANK -SPECIALIST (OFFICER)
· UNIVERSITY LEVEL TEACHING- INFANTRY-FOURTH COURSE
LANGUAGES:
· English (4.3.4.3)
· French (3.3.2.3)
DECORATIONS:
· 27TH MARCH 2019: UN MEDAL (FINUL) LEBANON
· 18TH OCTOBER 2018: SILVER CROSS-ORDER OF THE GUARDIA CIVIL
· 19TH JUNE 2018: GRAND CROSS- MILITARY ORDER (WHITE DISTINCTION)
· 24TH MARCH 2017: GRAND CROSS- ROYAL AND MILITARY ORDER OF ST. HERMENEGILD
· 21ST JUNE 2012: CROSS- MILITARY ORDER (WHITE DISTINCTION)
· 21ST JULY 2011: PLAQUE- ROYAL AND MILITARY ORDER OF ST. HERMENEGILD
· 24TH JUNE 2009 CROSS- MILITARY ORDER (WHITE BADGE)
· 23RD JUNE 2008: : NATO MEDAL: NO-ARTICLE 5 ''ISAF"
· 21ST JULY 2006: COMMANDER: ROYAL AND MILITARY ORDER OF ST. HERMENEGILD
· 24TH JANUARY 2006: CROSS- MILITARY ORDER (WHITE DISTINCTION)
· 15TH MAY 2005: NATO MEDAL: NO-ARTICLE 5 "BALKANS"
· 24TH JUNE 2004 CROSS- MILITARY ORDER (WHITE DISTINCTION)
· 21ST JULY 2001: CROSS- ROYAL AND MILITARY ORDER OF ST. HERMENEGILD
· 5TH OCTOBER 1999: CROSS- MILITARY ORDER (WHITE DISTINCTION )
· 1ST JUNE 1999: SPECIAL MENTION
· 24TH JUNE 1997 CROSS- MILITARY ORDER (WHITE DISTINCTION)
· 24TH JUNE 1996: SPECIAL MENTION
· 5TH JANUARY 1996: SPECIAL MENTION
· 5TH APRIL 1994: UN MEDAL (UNPROFOR)
· 23RD FEBRUARY 1994:CROSS- MILITARY ORDER (WHITE DISTINCTION)