Félix Sanz Roldán

Félix Sanz Roldán is a Spanish Army officer. He has the rank of Army General and since July 6, 2009, he is the 8th Director the National Intelligence Center, the main Spanish intelligence agency. Previously, he was the Chief of the Defence Staff (JEMAD) of the Spanish Armed Forces between 2004 and 2008.

Career
Sanz Roldán entered the General Military Academy, with the XXI Promotion of 1962, being promoted to Lieutenant in 1966. As a Lieutenant, he served in the Recruitment Instruction Battalion nº1 in El-Aaiún, Spanish Sahara. He was also destined into Astorga, Leon and San Roque, Cádiz.

After being promoted to Captain, he was destined to the Artillery Regiment Nº1 in Madrid. After completing his studies of General Staff, he held positions as Staff in the Armored Brigade XII in El Goloso, Madrid and in the Spanish-American Combined Joint Staff; He was the Head of Baton of Plana Mayor and Battery of Services, in the Artillery Group of ATP-XI Campaign in Campamento, and belonged to the Investigation and Doctrine Group of the Artillery Academy in Fuencarral.

After being promoted to Commandant (or Major) he was assigned as Deputy Military Attaché to the Spanish Embassy in Washington D.C. and later to the Section of Structures and Organic of the Division of Plans and Organization of the General Staff of the Army. Once promoted to Lieutenant colonel, he was appointed to command the Artillery Group of the Self-Propelled Campaign XII of the Armored Brigade, in El Goloso, Madrid and, at his retirement, was assigned to the Military Mission of Spain before the Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) in Mons, Belgium.

In July 1997, and as Colonel, he was Head of the International Treaties Section of the Division of Plans and Organization of the General Staff of the Army and Head of the Area of Relations with NATO / WEU of the Subdirectorate General for International Affairs of the Directorate-General for Defense Policy.

He was promoted to Brigadier general in 1998 and he was appointed to the office of Deputy Director General for Plans and International Relations in the General Directorate of Defense Policy (DIGENPOL) of the Ministry of Defence. In 2001 he was promoted to Major general.

In 2004 Sanz Roldán was promoted to Lieutenant general and was appointed to the office of Director General of Defence Policy. In the same year, he was appointed Chief of the Defence Staff as well as promoted to Army general. He held this position until 2008, when the Council of Ministers appointed the Lieutenant general of the Air, Julio Rodríguez Fernández, as a substitute.

Félix Sanz Roldán has held the position of High Representative for the Spanish Presidency of the EU, with direct dependence on the President of the Government. In 2009, he was awarded Doctor Honoris Causa by the University Alfonso X the Whise in Madrid.

On July 2, 2009, he was appointed Director of the National Intelligence Center He revalidated his position as director of the CNI in 2014.

Awards

 * ESP_Orden_de_San_Hermenegildo_Gran_Cruz_pasador.svg Grand Cross of the Royal and Military Order of San Hermenegild.
 * ESP Orden de San Hermenegildo Cruz pasador.svg Cross of the Royal and Military Order of San Hermenegild
 * ESP Orden de San Hermenegildo Encomienda pasador.svg Commander of the Royal and Military Order of San Hermenegild
 * ESP Gran Cruz Merito Naval (Distintivo Blanco) pasador.svg Grand Cross of Naval Merit
 * ESP Cruz Orden Merito Guardia Civil (Plata) pasador.svg Silver Cross of the Civil Guard Merit
 * ESP St Raymond of Penyafort Order - Common.svg Grand Cross of the Order of St. Raymond of Peñafort
 * ESP Cruz Merito Militar (Distintivo Blanco) pasador.svg 3 Crosses of Military Merit
 * ESP Cruz Merito Aeronautico (Distintivo Blanco) pasador.svg Cross of Aeronautical Merit
 * LTU Order of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas - Grand Cross BAR.png Grand Cross of the Order of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas
 * U.S. Army Distinguished Service Medal ribbon.svg U.S. Distinguished Service Medal
 * Flag of Morocco.svg Grand Cordon of the Order of Military Merit of Morocco
 * Legion Honneur Commandeur ribbon.svg Commandeur of the National Order of the Legion of Honour

Honors

 * Doctor honoris causa by the Alfonso X the Whise University.
 * Doctor honoris causa by the King Juan Carlos University.
 * Honorary Civil Guard officer
 * Escudo de Castilla-La Mancha.svg Gold medal of Castilla-La Mancha.
 * Coat of Arms of the Spanish Defence Staff-EMAD.svg Badge of the Chief of the Defence Staff.