Félix Sanz Roldán Facts for Kids

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal family name is Sanz and the second or maternal family name is Roldán.

Quick facts for kids Félix Sanz Roldán


Director of the National Intelligence Centre
In office July 6, 2009 – July 6, 2019
Monarch	Juan Carlos I (2009–2014) Felipe VI (2014–2019)
Prime Minister	José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero (2009–2011) Mariano Rajoy (2011–2018) Pedro Sánchez (2018–2019)
Deputy	Elena Sánchez Blanco (2009–2012) Beatriz Méndez de Vigo (2012–2017) Paz Esteban López (2017–2019)
Preceded by	Alberto Saiz
Succeeded by	Paz Esteban López
Chief of the Defence Staff
In office June 26, 2004 – July 19, 2008
Monarch	Juan Carlos I
Prime Minister	José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero
Preceded by	Antonio Moreno Barberá
Succeeded by	José Julio Rodríguez Fernández

Personal details
Born	(1945-01-20) January 20, 1945 (age 80) Uclés, Castilla-La Mancha, Spain
Military service
Allegiance	Spain
Branch/service	Spanish Army
Years of service	1962–2019
Rank	General of the Army

Félix Sanz Roldán was born on January 20, 1945. He is a retired general from the Spanish Army and an intelligence officer. He was the head of Spain's main intelligence agency, the National Intelligence Centre (CNI), from July 2009 to July 2019.

Before that, he was the Chief of the Defence Staff (JEMAD) for the Spanish Armed Forces. This was during the time José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero was prime minister, from 2004 to 2008.

Sanz Roldán joined the Spanish Armed Forces in 1962. He started his military journey at the General Military Academy. During his career, he worked at the Spanish Embassy in Washington D.C. as a military helper. He also held many important jobs within the Spanish Army.

In the Ministry of Defence, he helped plan international relations and defence policies. He retired from active service in 2019, after serving for 57 years.

Biography
Director of the CNI
- Catalan Referendum Challenges
Activities in Retirement
Awards and Honors
- Awards
- Honors
See also

Biography

Early Life and Education

Félix Sanz Roldán was born in Uclés, a town in Cuenca, on January 20, 1945. In 2009, he received an honorary doctorate (called Doctor Honoris Causa) from the University Alfonso X the Wise in Madrid.

Military Career Highlights

Sanz Roldán joined the General Military Academy in 1962. He became a lieutenant in 1966. As a lieutenant, he served in places like El-Aaiún in the Spanish Sahara. He also worked in Astorga, Leon, and San Roque.

After becoming a captain, he worked with the Artillery Regiment Nº1 in Madrid. He also studied to become a General Staff officer. He held staff positions in different military units, including the Armored Brigade XII in El Goloso.

When he became a major, he was sent to the Spanish Embassy in Washington, D.C.. There, he served as a deputy military attaché. Later, he worked on army plans and organization. As a lieutenant colonel, he commanded an Artillery Group in El Goloso.

In July 1997, as a colonel, he worked on international treaties and relations with NATO. In 1998, he was promoted to brigadier general. He became Deputy Director-General for Plans and International Relations in the Ministry of Defence. In 2001, he was promoted to major general.

Chief of the Defence Staff

In 2004, Sanz Roldán was promoted to lieutenant general. He was then appointed Director-General for Defence Policy. In the same year, he became the Chief of the Defence Staff (JEMAD). He was also promoted to General of the Army.

He held this important position until 2008. After leaving the JEMAD role, he became a High Representative for Spain's presidency of the EU. In this role, he worked directly for the President of the Government.

Director of the CNI

On July 2, 2009, the previous Director of the CNI, Alberto Saiz, resigned. He had faced challenges and criticisms about his management. These criticisms were about how he used the centre's resources during his trips. He denied these claims.

On July 9, Félix Sanz Roldán was appointed as the new Director of the National Intelligence Center. His first goal was to bring peace and trust back to the agency. The previous director's situation had caused problems between the agents and the leaders.

During his first two years, the CNI provided important information to police forces in Spain and France. This helped weaken a terrorist group and led to important arrests. In October 2011, this terrorist group announced that it would stop its activities for good.

In 2012, Mariano Rajoy became Prime Minister. He trusted Sanz Roldán and asked him to continue leading the CNI. Sanz Roldán was reappointed for a second term as director in 2014.

CNI Director, Sanz Roldán (left), along with other government officials in a National Security Council meeting in January 2019.

Catalan Referendum Challenges

In late 2017, Sanz Roldán and the CNI faced criticism. This was because they could not find the ballot boxes for the 2017 Catalan independence referendum. The Spanish Government and the Constitutional Court had declared this referendum illegal. He was also criticized when the former Catalan president, Carles Puigdemont, left for Belgium.

Sanz Roldán later said that on the day after the referendum, there was a feeling at the CNI that they "could have done better." However, he defended the CNI's work. He stated that the intelligence they provided to the government was indeed helpful.

Activities in Retirement

After leaving his role as CNI director, Sanz Roldán took on a new position. In November 2019, he became the Chairman of the Social Council of the University of Castilla–La Mancha.