Santiago Valderas Cañestro
Spanish military personnel
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Santiago Valderas Cañestro (26 March 1933, Larache, Spanish Protectorate of Morocco – 12 January 2019, Alcalá de Henares, Community of Madrid, Spain) was a Spanish military officer, Chief of Defence Staff from 1996 to 2000.[1]
Santiago Valderas Cañestro | |
|---|---|
| Born | March 26, 1933 |
| Died | January 19, 2019 (aged 85) |
Branch | Spanish Air and Space Force |
Service years | since 1957 |
Rank | General of the Air (since 1999) |
| Commands | Chief of the Defence Staff (1996-2000) |
| Alma mater | Academia General del Aire y del Espacio (1957) |
Biography
Military career
In 1957, he graduated as a lieutenant from the General Air Academy, with the 9th promotion of the General Air Academy, as a jet pilot.[2] Subsequently, he was awarded the title of fighter pilot by the US Air Force. The posts he was entrusted with included: command of the 12th Wing of the Torrejón Air Base; member of the Air Force General Staff (1992–1993); military representative to the NATO Military Committee and military delegate to the Permanent Representation of Spain to the Council of the Western European Union (WEU) (1994–1996).[3]
On 26 July 1996, he was appointed Chief of Defence Staff.[4] During his tenure, he promoted the professionalisation and modernisation of the Armed Forces, as a preliminary step to eliminating compulsory military service, and Spain's full incorporation into NATO's military structure took place.[3]
Promoted to Air General in 1999, he was in favour of Spain promoting "the achievement of a European security identity, within the framework of NATO".[5] On 15 December 2000, the government of José María Aznar appointed Admiral Antonio Moreno Barberá as the new JEMAD, replacing Santiago Valderas.[6]