Vice Admiral Ignacio Villanueva is a 1987 graduate of the Spanish Naval Academy.
In 1989 he earned his US Navy wings, becoming a Naval Aviator. He then flew the AV-8V PLUS on board the Spanish carrier ‘PRINCIPE DE ASTURIAS.’ During that period, he was also appointed as an exchange pilot with the Spanish Air force, flying the EF-18 A+ and taking part in the B-H conflict, where he flew several combat missions deployed from Aviano AB, Italy.
He has commanded the gun patrol boat ‘P-11 BARCELO’, the high seas patrol boat ‘P-63 ARNOMENDI’, the LST ‘L-42 PIZARRO’, the Fleet Air Arm ‘FLOAN’ and the Airfield of the Rota Naval Base. He was the Director of the Fleet Naval Aviation School and the CO of the 9th HARRIER Squadron. Ashore, he has served in a variety of assignments, most notably as a staff officer in the International Relations Department at the Navy HQ, as ACOS N3 in the SPMARFOR High Readiness Maritime HQ, and as Head of the Operations department at the Spanish Fleet HQ. Abroad he was stationed in Mons, Belgium, serving at SHAPE J5 as the ACO capability requirements and force planning officer; and in Pristina, Kosovo, working as UN peace observer and liaison officer between KFOR HQ and UNMIK HQ.
Additionally, he has attended several national and NATO courses including the NATO perational Planning, NATO Staff Officer Defense Planning and NATO expeditionary operations courses. He graduated with distinction from the US Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island, after having completed the Naval Staff and the Naval Command Courses in years 2001 and 2018 respectively. He also obtained a Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies from the same US Naval War College. His academic background is completed with a job as a professor at the High Defense Studies Center in Madrid, Spain.
He was promoted to Rear Admiral on the 5th December 2019. As Flag Officer he has been appointed as 2nd Commander of the Spanish High Readiness Maritime HQ and DCOM SPMARFOR. He was appointed as Force Commander of the EU NAVFOR Somalia Op Atalanta on board the frigates NUMANCIA and SANTA MARIA. On 26 February 2021 he was appointed as COS Spanish Fleet HQ, being promoted to Vice Admiral on 3 November.
He has several national Navy medals, one UN medal, one UE medal, one NATO medal and one SPAF medal, and numerous awards and citations.
He is married to Matilde and has four children.
A native of La Spezia, Davide DA POZZO was on September 4th, 1975.
In 1994, he joined the Naval Academy, where he specialized as a Gunnery and Anti-Air Warfare Officer. From 1998 until 2007, he served as Gunnery Officer on board a range of ships, including ITS AUDACE, ITS BORSINI, ITS URANIA, and ITS LIBECCIO. During this period, he participated in several multinational operations, such as NATO Active Endeavour (2001) and Enduring Freedom (2005), as well as national operations, including DINAK in the Adriatic Sea and Fishery Patrol in the Strait of Sicily.
In September 2007, he was appointed Commanding Officer of ITS SENTINELLA as part of the Multinational Force & Observers in Sinai (Egypt). From 2008 to 2011, he served on board ITS SCIROCCO as Head of the Operations Department, participating in Operation UNIFIL II (2009) and NATO Ocean Shield (2010).
From 2011 to 2016, he worked as a staff officer (NATO & EU) within the Maritime Policy & International Relations Office at the Italian Navy General Staff. Subsequently, he was appointed Head of Operations & Training within the Command of the 1st Naval Division in La Spezia.
On 30th September 2017, he was appointed Commanding Officer of the Frigate ALPINO – F594 (ASW FREMM Class) and participated in various training and operational activities, including a deployment to North America.
From October 2018 to July 2022, and again from September 2023 to January 2025, he served as the Head of the Maritime Policy and International Relations Office within the Italian Navy General Staff.
On 25th July 2022, he took command of the destroyer ITS CAIO DUILIO – D554 (AAW HORIZON Class), participating in many exercises and operations, such as Operation Brilliant Shield in the Baltic Sea.
Promoted Rear Admiral, he became the 49th Force Commander of the Operation EUNAVFOR Atalanta in February 2025.
He is married to Francesca and he is the proud father of Lorenzo and Giulia.