Chief of the Defence Staff (Spain)

The Chief of the Defence Staff (Jefe del Estado Mayor de la Defensa, JEMAD) is the chief of defence equivalent of the Spanish Armed Forces. The position is currently held by Admiral Fernando García Sánchez.

History
The position was introduced by the first government of Felipe Gonzalez in 1984 and replaced the position of Chief of Joint Chiefs of Staff (JUJEM) which replaced the Chief of the defence high command (jefe del Alto Estado Mayor) in 1979.

The last officer to occupy the post of Chief of Defence high command was Lieutenant General Felipe Galarza. (from July to september 1977.

The last Officer to occupy the position of Chief of Joint Chiefs of Staff was Lieutenant General Alvaro Lacalle Leloup from 1982 to 1984.

The AEM was replaced by the JUJEM in May 1980 before the creation of the position of JEMAD in early 1984 which took over many of the functions previously under the responsibility of the JUJEM.

Functions
The Chief of the Defence has two roles:
 * Conduct strategic military operations under the authority of the Minister of Defence and the President of the Government.
 * Prepare and propose the integrated strategic plan
 * Establish operating structures of the Armed Forces.
 * Assign missions
 * Coordination with Military Chiefs of other allied countries and international organizations in joint missions
 * Communicate general instructions to the Army, Navy and Air Force Chiefs of Staff
 * Manage the joint command and control, intelligence, telecommunications and electronic warfare

List of holders of position

 * Admiral Ángel Liberal Lucini (from 1984 to 1986 )
 * General del Aire Gonzalo Puigcerver Romá, (from 1986 to 1990 )
 * Admiral Rodríguez y Martín Granizo  (from 1990 to  1992 )
 * Lieutenant general José Rodrigo Rodrigo (from 1992 to 1996 )
 * Lieutenant general Santiago Valderas Cañestro (from 1996 to 2000 )
 * Admiral General Antonio Moreno Barberá (from 2000 to 2004 )
 * General Félix Sanz Roldán (from 2004 to 2008 )
 * Lieutenant general del Aire José Julio Rodríguez Fernández (from 2008 to 2011 )
 * Admiral General Fernando García Sánchez (from 2011 to present )