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]

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]

References

  1. ↑ "Muere el general Santiago Valderas, jefe del Estado Mayor de la Defensa en el primer Gobierno de Aznar". ELMUNDO (in Spanish). 2019-01-12. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
  2. ↑ "Ha fallecido el General del Aire Santiago Valderas Cañestro, JEMAD en el primer gobierno de Aznar. – Asociación de Militares Españoles". ame1.org.es (in Spanish). Retrieved 2023-10-17.
  3. 1 2 "El Gobierno prevé nombrar al general Valderas jefe del Estado Mayor de la Defensa". El País (in Spanish). 1996-07-26. ISSN 1134-6582. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
  4. ↑ "BOE-A-1996-17269 Real Decreto 1849/1996, de 26 de julio, por el que se nombra Jefe del Estado Mayor de la Defensa al Teniente General del Cuerpo General del Ejército del Aire don Santiago Valderas Cañestro". www.boe.es. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
  5. ↑ "Participamos en todos los foros de la defensa colectiva" (PDF). publicaciones.defensa.gob.es. October 1996.
  6. ↑ "ABC MADRID 12-12-2000 página 24 - Archivo ABC". abc. 2019-08-30. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
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