Chief of Staff of the Navy (Spain) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Chief of Staff of the Navy |
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Flag of the Admiral Chief of Staff of the Navy
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Emblem of the General Staff of the Navy
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Incumbent
Antonio Piñeiro Sánchez since 25 April 2023 |
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| Naval Staff Ministry of Defence |
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| Style | The Most Excellent |
| Abbreviation | AJEMA |
| Member of | Naval Staff National Defence Council Council of Chiefs of Staff |
| Reports to | Minister of Defence |
| Seat | Spanish Navy Headquarters, Madrid |
| Nominator | Defence Minister After being discussed in the Council of Ministers |
| Appointer | Monarch
Countersigned by the Defence Minister
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| Term length | No fixed term |
| Constituting instrument | Royal Decree of 13 July 1895 |
| Formation | 13 July 1895 |
| First holder | Zoilo Sánchez de Ocaña y Vieitiz |
| Deputy | Second Admiral Chief of Staff of the Navy |
| Website | Website of the Spanish Navy Staff |
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The Chief of Staff of the Navy (AJEMA) is the highest-ranking military officer in the Spanish Navy. This person leads the naval branch under the Minister of Defence. The AJEMA is also the main military advisor for naval matters. They advise the Chief of the Defence Staff, the Minister of Defence, and other important leaders.
The AJEMA has two main responsibilities. First, they offer advice to the Minister of Defence on naval policy. They also advise on how to use naval personnel and their readiness for action. Second, the AJEMA prepares the Navy for combat and trains military personnel. They also organize the Navy and look after the well-being of its members.
The AJEMA leads the Naval Staff (EMA), which is a key group that helps them. The EMA assists the AJEMA with organizing the Navy and managing its resources. Many military officers work for the EMA. Important officers include the Second Admiral Chief of Staff of the Navy and the Admiral of the Fleet.
Admiral Carlos Martínez-Merello y Díaz de Miranda temporarily held the position. He took over after Admiral General Antonio Martorell Lacave passed away on March 31, 2023.
Contents
History of the AJEMA Role
How the Position Started
The role of AJEMA was created on July 13, 1895. At the same time, the Naval Staff was formed. This new position replaced the old role of Under Secretary of the Navy. Only officers with a rank of at least Rear admiral could hold this job.
Changes Over the Years
In 1899, the Undersecretary of the Navy role was brought back. It took over the duties of the Naval Staff. Because of this, the AJEMA position disappeared in 1900.
Later, in December 1902, the Central Staff of the Navy (EMCA) was created. Its leader was again called the Chief of the Central Naval Staff. This role was removed in August 1903. However, a new law in 1908 brought the EMCA back once more. The AJEMA then became the head of a board that advised the Minister of the Navy.
In 1927, the EMCA was replaced by a new department. This department was led by a Vice Admiral. Then, in 1930, the Naval Staff (EMA) was created again. The Chief of Staff of the Navy role also returned. By December 1930, the leader was officially called the AJEMA.
The Civil War and Beyond
During the Spanish Civil War, both sides had their own naval leadership. After the war ended, the Spanish government kept the Naval Staff. The Chief or Admiral Chief of Staff of the Navy has led it ever since.
This table shows the people who have served as the Chief of Staff of the Navy.
| No. | Rank | Name | Appointed | Dismissed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1º | Rear admiral | Zoilo Sánchez de Ocaña y Vieitiz | 14 July 1895 | 19 March 1896 |
| 2º | Rear admiral | Fernando Martínez de Espinosa y Echeverri | 19 March 1896 | 22 October 1896 |
| 3º | Rear admiral | Segismundo Bermejo y Merelo | 22 October 1896 | 1 April 1897 |
| 4º | Rear admiral | Ismael Warleta Ordovás | 20 August 1897 | †9 August 1898 |
| 5º | Rear admiral | Manuel Mozo y Díaz Robles | 30 March 1899 | 25 October 1899 |
| 6º | Rear admiral | Antonio Terry y Rivas | 25 October 1899 | 20 April 1900 |
| 7º | Ship-of-the-line captain | Antonio Moreno de Guerra y Cróquer | 20 April 1900 | 7 November 1900 |
| 8º | Rear admiral | José María Pilón y Sterling | 20 April 1900 | 7 November 1900 |
| 9º | Vice admiral | Pascual Cervera y Topete | 28 December 1902 | 19 August 1903 |
| 10º | Rear Admiral | Federico Estrán y Justo | 17 January 1908 | 10 June 1909 |
| 11º | Rear Admiral | José de la Puente y Bassave | 10 June 1909 | 19 April 1910 |
| 12º | Vice Admiral | Joaquín María de Cincúnegui y Marco | 19 April 1910 | 27 September 1912 |
| 13º | Vice Admiral | Francisco Chacón y Pery | 27 September 1912 | 4 July 1913 |
| 14º | Admiral | Antonio Perea y Orive | 5 July 1913 | 5 September 1914 |
| 15º | Vice Admiral | Orestes García de Paadín y García | 5 September 1914 | 19 January 1915 |
| 16º | Admiral | José Pidal Rebollo | 19 January 1915 | 23 March 1918 |
| 17º | Admiral | Adriano Sánchez Lobatón | 24 March 1918 | 21 November 1919 |
| 18º | Admiral | José María Chacón y Pery | 21 November 1919 | 13 May 1920 |
| 19º | Admiral | Gabriel Antón Iboleón | 13 May 1920 | † 2 February 1924 |
| 20º | Admiral | Ignacio Pintado Gough | 8 February 1924 | 10 June 1924 |
| 21º | Admiral | Juan Carranza y Garrido | 10 June 1924 | 4 May 1927 |
| 22º | Admiral | José Rivera Álvarez de Canero | 4 May 1927 | 28 November 1927 |
| 23º | Vice Admiral | José Núñez y Quijano | 28 October 1930 | 22 December 1930 |
| 24º | Vice Admiral | Juan Cervera Valderrama | 28 November 1927 | 21 August 1931 |
| 25º | Vice Admiral | Francisco Javier de Salas González | 25 September 1931 | 19 July 1936 |
| Beginning of the Spanish Civil War | ||||
| Vacant from 19 July–2 September 1936 | ||||
| Disputed | Corvette captain |  Miguel Buiza Fernández-Palacios |
2 September 1936 | 27 October 1937 |
| Disputed | Corvette captain | Luis González de Ubieta |
27 October 1937 | 8 January 1939 |
| Disputed | Ship-of-the-line captain | Miguel Buiza Fernández-Palacios (2nd term) |
8 January 1939 | 5 March 1939 |
| Disputed | Admiral |  Juan Cervera Valderrama (2nd term) |
28 October 1936 | 1 April 1939 |
| End of the Civil War | ||||
| 26º | Admiral | Juan Cervera Valderrama | 1 April 1939 | 16 August 1939 |
| Functions assumed by the Ministry of the Navy from 16 August 1939 to 23 September 1942 | ||||
| 27º | Admiral | Alfonso Arriaga Adam | 23 September 1942 | 26 March 1951 |
| 28º | Admiral | Rafael Estrada Arnaiz | 26 March 1951 | 17 October 1952 |
| 29º | Admiral | Juan Pastor Tomasety | 24 October 1952 | 26 July 1956 |
| 30º | Admiral | Felipe José de Abárzuza y Oliva | 21 August 1956 | 25 February 1957 |
| 31º | Admiral | Santiago Antón Rozas | 4 May 1957 | 17 January 1963 |
| 32º | Admiral | Jerónimo Bustamante de la Rocha | 17 January 1963 | 10 August 1963 |
| 33º | Admiral | Fernando Meléndez Bojaro | 10 August 1963 | 25 February 1966 |
| 34º | Admiral | Rafael Fernández de Bobadilla y Ragel | 26 February 1966 | 6 May 1967 |
| 35º | Admiral | Adolfo Baturone Colombo | 6 May 1967 | 29 October 1969 |
| 36º | Admiral | Enrique Barbudo Duarte | 7 November 1969 | 7 July 1972 |
| 37º | Admiral | Gabriel Pita da Veiga y Sanz | 7 July 1972 | 22 June 1973 |
| 38º | Admiral | José Ramón González López | 22 June 1973 | 27 September 1975 |
| 39º | Admiral (*) | Carlos Buhigas García | 27 September 1975 | 19 November 1977 |
| 40º | Admiral (*) | Luis Arévalo Pelluz | 23 November 1977 | 15 January 1982 |
| 41º | Admiral (**) | Saturnino Suanzes de la Hidalga | 15 January 1982 | 11 January 1984 |
| 42º | Admiral (*) | Guillermo Salas Cardenal | 11 January 1984 | 31 October 1986 |
| 43º | Admiral (**) | Fernando María Nárdiz Vial | 31 October 1986 | 18 May 1990 |
| 44º | Admiral (**) | Carlos Vila Miranda | 18 May 1990 | 14 February 1994 |
| 45º | Admiral (**) | Juan José Romero Caramelo | 14 February 1994 | 27 June 1997 |
| 46º | Admiral (***) | Antonio Moreno Barberá | 27 June 1997 | 15 December 2000 |
| 47º | Admiral General | Francisco José Torrente Sánchez | 16 December 2000 | 30 April 2004 |
| 48º | Admiral General | Sebastián Zaragoza Soto | 30 April 2004 | 18 July 2008 |
| 49º | Admiral General | Manuel Rebollo García | 18 July 2008 | 27 July 2012 |
| 50º | Admiral General | Jaime Muñoz-Delgado y Díaz del Río | 27 July 2012 | 1 April 2017 |
| 51º | Admiral General | Teodoro Esteban López Calderón | 1 April 2017 | 27 January 2021 |
| - | Admiral | Fausto Escrigas Rodríguez (acting) | 27 January 2021 | 10 February 2021 |
| 52º | Admiral General | Antonio Martorell Lacave | 10 February 2021 | 31 March 2023 |
| - | Admiral | Carlos Martínez-Merello y Díaz de Miranda (acting) | 31 March 2023 | 26 April 2023 |
| 53º | Admiral General | Antonio Piñeiro | 25 April 2023 | Incumbent |
(*) Promoted after their death to Admiral General in 1999. () Given the honorary title of Admiral General in 1999. (*) Promoted to Admiral General while still in office.
See also
In Spanish: Jefe de Estado Mayor de la Armada (España) para niños
- Chief of the Defence Staff
- Ministers of Defence
- Captain general of the Navy
- Spanish Navy
- Chief of Staff of the Army
- Chief of Staff of the Air Force
