Order of Merit for Security
Spanish order of merit
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Order of Merit for Security (Spanish: Orden del Mérito a la Seguridad) is a Spanish order of merit whose purpose is to reward outstanding services in the field of public security.
Typeorder of merit
Established18 February 2025
Royal houseHouse of Bourbon-Anjou
EligibilitySpanish and foreign citizens
| Order of Merit for Security | |
|---|---|
Grand Cross | |
| Awarded by the King of Spain | |
| Type | order of merit |
| Established | 18 February 2025 |
| Royal house | House of Bourbon-Anjou |
| Eligibility | Spanish and foreign citizens |
| Awarded for | outstanding services in the field of public security |
| Status | Extant |
| Sovereign | King Felipe VI |
| Grand Chancellor | Fernando Grande-Marlaska, Minister of the Interior |
| Chancellor | Secretary of State for Security |
| Grades | Grand Cross Gold Cross Silver Cross Badge |
| Post-nominals | OMS |
| Statistics | |
| First induction | 2025 |
| Total inductees | 16 |
| Precedence | |
| Next (higher) | Royal Order of Civil Recognition to Victims of Terrorism |
| Next (lower) | Order of Merit of the Civil Guard Order of Police Merit |
The order was established by Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska in February 2025 to honor people and institutions in the field of public security because the Ministry of the Interior had specific merit orders for police forces (Order of Police Merit and Order of Merit of the Civil Guard), but not a general one for citizens, civil authorities or organizations that contribute to "security" in the broadest sense of the word.[1]
Grades
The order is divided into four grades:[2]
- Grand Cross. It is the highest grade and the only one granted by a royal decree of the Monarch on the advice of the Council of Ministers. The grand cross consists of a four-armed cross, 70 mm long between opposite arms, tricuspid in shape, enamelled in azure and edged in gold, with the points topped by globes of the same metal. Between the ends of the arms there will be seven silver-colored rays, the central one being double thick (5,5 mm), and at the end of the arms there will protrude a point 8 mm wide. In the center, it will bear the official emblem of the Secretariat of State for Security in its colors, on a gold background, outlined with a laurel wreath in gilt metal. The reverse will bear the inscription in relief: SPAIN - Security Merit Ministry of the Interior - GRAND CROSS. The ribbon will consist of the Spanish flag on the sides, the left stripe in the characteristic blue of the National Police, white in the center and the right stripe in green, the color of the Civil Guard; in the middle of the ribbon, the royal crown.
- Gold Cross. Granted by order of the minister of the interior. It has the same characteristics as the grand cross, but without the silver background and with a gold-colored ring on the top for attaching it to the ribbon. It is also smaller, with a 50 mm length. The reverse will bear the inscription in relief: SPAIN - Security Merit Ministry of the Interior - GOLD CROSS. The ribbon has the same characteristics as the one for the Grand Cross but with a golden oak leaf instead of the royal crown.
- Silver Cross. Granted by order of the minister of the interior. It has the same characteristics as the gold cross, but in silver. The reverse will bear the inscription in relief: SPAIN - Security Merit Ministry of the Interior - SILVER. The ribbon has a silver oak leaf instead of a golden one.
- Badge. Granted by order of the minister of the interior. The badge is intended for legal persons or entities without capacity. It has the same characteristics as the Silver Cross but with the same size as the Grand Cross. The reverse will bear the inscription in relief: SPAIN - Security Merit Ministry of the Interior - BADGE. No ribbon.
Insignias
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| Grand Cross | Gold Cross | Silver Cross | Badge |
Recipients
| Name | Category | Year of concession | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alfredo Pérez Rubalcaba | Grand Cross | 2025[3] | Posthumously; Minister of the Interior (2006–2011) |
| Rafael Pérez Ruiz | Gold Cross | 2025[3] | Secretary of State for Security (2020–2025) |
| Ricardo Martí Fluxá | Gold Cross | 2025[3] | Secretary of State for Security (1996–2000) |
| Antonio Camacho Vizcaíno | Gold Cross | 2025[3] | Minister of the Interior (2011) Secretary of State for Security (2004–2011) |
| Ana Botella Gómez | Gold Cross | 2025[3] | Secretary of State for Security (2018–2020) |
| María José García Sánchez | Silver Cross | 2025[3] | Police inspector, murdered by ETA in 1981 |
| Juan Manuel Piñuel Villalón | Silver Cross | 2025[3] | Civil Guard, murdered by ETA in 2008 |
| Santos Santamaría Avendaño | Silver Cross | 2025[3] | Mossos d'Esquadra, murdered by ETA in 2001 |
| Joseba Goicoetxea Alsa | Silver Cross | 2025[3] | Ertzaintza sergeant, murdered by ETA in 1993 |
| José Luis Prieto García | Silver Cross | 2025[3] | Retired Spanish Army lieutenant colonel Policía Foral chief (1966–1979), murdered by ETA in 1981 |
| Jesús Rebollo García | Silver Cross | 2025[3] | Madrid Local Police officer, murdered by ETA in 1995 |
| Pere Navarro Olivella | Silver Cross | 2025[3] | Director-General for Traffic (2004–2012 & 2018–present) |
| Mercedes Gallizo Llamas | Silver Cross | 2025[3] | Director-General for Penitentiary Institutions (2004–2008) Secretary-General for Penitentiary Institutions (2008–2011) |
| Gabriela Bravo | Silver Cross | 2025[3] | Regional Minister of Justice, Interior and Public Administration of the Generalitat Valenciana (2015–2023) |
| Sagrario Ortega | Silver Cross | 2025[3] | Agencia EFE journalist expert in public safety |
| Victims of Terrorism Foundation | Badge | 2025[3] |