Miguel Ángel Villarroya facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Miguel Ángel Villarroya
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In 2019
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| Born | 15 May 1957 La Galera, Tarragona, Spain |
| Allegiance | Kingdom of Spain |
| Service/ |
Spanish Air and Space Force |
| Years of service | 1980–2021 |
| Rank | General of the Air |
| Commands held | Chief of the Defence Staff Chief of the Defence Minister' Technical Cabinet Chief of the Canary Islands Air Command Chief of the Torrejón Air Base |
| Battles/wars | Liberation of Kuwait campaign Spanish Icarus Detachment (air force support to the Balkans) Rwandan Civil War |
| Awards | See Awards. |
Miguel Ángel Villarroya Vilalta was born on May 15, 1957. He is a Spanish general who served in the Spanish Air and Space Force. He held a very important job as the 11th Chief of the Defence Staff of Spain from 2020 to 2021. Before that, he worked closely with the Defence Ministers, helping them with technical matters from 2017 to 2020.
Contents
About Miguel Ángel Villarroya
Early Life and Training
Miguel Ángel Villarroya was born in La Galera, a town in the province of Tarragona, Spain. This was on May 15, 1957. He learned to fly and got his civil pilot license when he was 17 years old.
A year later, he joined the General Air Force Academy in San Javier. Here, he began his military studies. He became a lieutenant in 1980. He also studied to become a General Staff officer.
Villarroya has spent many hours flying planes. He has flown for more than 9,800 hours, mostly in the Lockheed C-130 Hercules aircraft.
His Military Journey
After finishing his studies in 1980, Miguel Ángel Villarroya joined the Matacán Schools Group. This group trains air force officers in different skills. In 1981, he was sent to the 31 Wing, which is an Air Force transport unit. He was promoted to captain in 1983 and to commander in 1989 while working there.
In July 1996, he moved to the Operative Air Force Command Headquarters. Two years later, in November 1998, he became a lieutenant colonel.
From 2000 to 2005, he was in charge of the forces at the Torrejón Air Force Base. He was promoted to colonel and then became the chief of this important Air Base. He held this position from 2005 to 2011. In April 2012, he became the Deputy Director of the European Air Group. Later, in May 2014, he was appointed chief of the General Secretariat of the Air Force General Staff.
Villarroya became a general in the Air Force in January 2011. He was promoted to brigadier general. Three years later, he became a divisional general. As a divisional general, he led the Canary Islands Air Command until April 2017. At that time, the Defence Minister, María Dolores de Cospedal, chose him to lead her Technical Cabinet. He was also promoted to lieutenant general.
In June 2018, there was a change in government. Margarita Robles became the new Minister of Defense. She trusted Villarroya and kept him as the Director of the Technical Cabinet.
In January 2020, the prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, appointed Villarroya as the Chief of the Defence Staff. This is a very high-ranking position. He was also promoted to Air General.
In January 2021, Villarroya decided to resign from his role as Chief of the Defence Staff. This happened after information came out about many high-ranking officers, including himself, receiving a COVID-19 vaccine. They were not on the priority list for the vaccine at that time. Admiral General Teodoro Esteban López Calderón took over his position on January 27, 2021.
After leaving his role, he continued to serve in other ways. On February 3, 2021, he became a member of the Assembly of the Royal and Military Order of Saint Hermenegild. On March 16, 2021, he was appointed as a Defense Counselor for Spain's mission to the Organization of American States (OAS). He also became an advisor for security matters in the Americas.
Awards and Badges
Miguel Ángel Villarroya has received many awards and badges for his service:
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Badges
Personal Life
Miguel Ángel Villarroya is married. He has two children and three grandchildren.
See also
In Spanish: Miguel Ángel Villarroya Vilalta para niños
