CIFAS
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 the Armies and Navy Staff on military counterintelligence and security matters, 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 area.
The Armed Forces Intelligence Centre also performs the following functions:
- Directs the exploitation of joint intelligence, identification and surveillance systems, and coordinates the exploitation of specific systems of this kind.
- Provides the Chiefs of the Armies and Navy Staff with the intelligence required for development of the Force's training activities.
- Plans, directs and, where appropriate, executes actions in matters of cartography in the field of defence. To this end, the corresponding Corps of the Armies and the Navy maintain functional dependence from the Centre.
Born at Línea de la Concepción, on 9th January 1963. Married, three children.
Entered the General Military Academy (Saragossa) in 1981 and received the Royal Commission as Lieutenant in 1986.
AMONGS THE POSTS HELD, THE FOLLOWING STAND OUT:
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 mission forming part of the Spanish contingent within UNPROFOR in Bosnia Herzegovina. Subsequently, with different ranks of Officer, he has carried out missions both in Kosovo and in Afghanistan.
He was promoted to Major 1998. After attending General Staff Course, he was assigned to the General Headquarters of the Forces of Manoeuvre and to the General Headquarters of the 12th Armoured Brigade.
Upon promotion to Lieutenant Coronel in 2006 he commanded the 6th Battalion of the Spanish Foreign Legion and was subsequently posted to the Army Chief of Staff’s Office.
Promoted to Coronel in 2013, he was appointed Commander of the Spanish Foreign Legion 3rd Tercio “Juan de Austria”. Subsequently, he worked at the General Directorate of Defence Policy (DIGENPOL) of the Ministry of Defence, as Head of the NATO Area.
Promoted to Brigadier General in 2017, he was appointed General Commander of the BRILAT “Galicia” VII, in Pontevedra.
After the latter, he was pointed Commander of the East Sector of the 30th Libre Hidalgo Operation (Lebanon), deployed in the TO from 17th November 2018 to 22nd May 2019.
On 26th September 2019, he was appointed Director (DICIFAS) of the Armed Forces’ Intelligence Centre (CIFAS).
On 1st October 2019 he was promoted to Major General continuing as DICIFAS.
HAS TAKEN PART IN 6 INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS
· “LIBRE HIDALGO”-LEBANON 2018
· OPERATION ISAF (AFGHANISTAN) 2008
· KSPAGT 2005
· UNPROFOR 1993 COURSES:
· UPDATE TO CARRY A GENERAL’S TASKS
· NATO DEFENSE COLLEGE {NADEFCOL)
· NATO LOGISTIC (NLC)(GERMANY)
· BATTLE TANK-SPECIALIST COMMANDER
· ARMY CHIEF OF STAFF
· TRAINING- PROMOTION TO MAJOR ESUP
· PARACHUTIST-OFFICERS
· 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 BADGE)
· 24TH MARCH 2017: GRAND CROSS- ROYAL AND MILITARY ORDER OF ST. HERMENEGILDUS
· 21ST JUNE 2012: CROSS- MILITARY ORDER (WHITE BADGE)
· 21ST JULY 2011: PLAQUE- ROYAL AND MILITARY ORDER OF ST. HERMENEGILDUS
· 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. HERMENEGILDUS
· 24TH JANUARY 2006: CROSS- MILITARY ORDER (WHITE BADGE)
· 15TH MAY 2005: NATO MEDAL: NO-ARTICLE 5 "BALKANS"
· 24TH JUNE 2004 CROSS- MILITARY ORDER (WHITE BADGE)
· 21ST JULY 2001: CROSS- ROYAL AND MILITARY ORDER OF ST. HERMENEGILDUS
· 5TH OCTOBER 1999: CROSS- MILITARY ORDER (WHITE BADGE)
· 1ST JUNE 1999: SPECIAL MENTION
· 24TH JUNE 1997 CROSS- MILITARY ORDER (WHITE BADGE)
· 24TH JUNE 1996: SPECIAL MENTION
· 5TH JANUARY 1996: SPECIAL MENTION
· 5TH APRIL 1994: UN MEDAL (UNPROFOR)
· 23RD FEBRUARY 1994:CROSS- MILITARY ORDER (WHITE BADGE)