Chain of Command

Operation Commander
The Operation Commander (Op Comd) commands the operation from the Operation Headquarters (OHQ) at Rota, Spain. There he plans and conducts the operation in conjunction with the political and military authorities of the European Union.
VICE ADMIRAL IGNACIO VILLANUEVA SERRANO

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.

Deputy Operation Commander
The Deputy Operation Commander (DCom) exercises command in absence of the Operation Commander.
Rear Admiral Éric Dousson

Rear Admiral Éric Dousson joined the French Naval Academy in 1990.

 

Specialized in anti-surface warfare, he embarked from 1993 to 1997 on the frigate ‘BALNY‘, the submarine ‘AGOSTA‘ and the anti-submarine destroyer ‘LATOUCHE-TRÉVILLE‘. In 1997, he took command of the training ship ‘GUÉPARD‘, in charge of the navigation training for naval officers of the watch. After a year at the Naval Weapons and Combat Systems School (ESCAN), he was appointed on the frigate ‘LIEUTENANT DE VAISSEAU LE HÉNAFF‘ in 1999, then on the anti-submarine destroyers ‘PRIMAUGUET‘ and ‘LATOUCHE-TRÉVILLE‘ until 2004. During this first part of his career, he was deployed in the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans, the Yellow Sea, the Eastern Mediterranean and the Barents Sea.

In 2004, he was Deputy Dean at the Naval Academy, which trains 1,100 sailors and future officers each year. In 2006, after a year at the French War College, he was assigned to the “Human Resources Policy” office of the French Navy Staff, where he conducted studies on officers and general discipline.

In 2009, he took command of the anti-submarine destroyer ‘GEORGES LEYGUES‘, which was deployed in the Operation ATALANTA.

Dean at the Naval Academy in 2010, he led the work on the development strategy of the school. In 2013, he joined the submarine and Strategic Oceanic Force Staff as head of the "Human Resources" division, where he was in charge of submarine crew generation. Assigned to the Ministry of Defense's human resources direction in 2017, he led the digital transformation project of “Défense Mobilité”, the ministry's reconversion agency, during its initialization phase.

After three years as head of a research unit, he became, in 2021, “human resources management and administration” deputy director in the Navy's Human Resources direction. In August 2023, he joined the Naval Operations Staff's "Employment Doctrine" office.

He was promoted to Rear Admiral on the 1st January 2024. Since 8th January 2024, Rear Admiral Dousson serves, in Rota, as Deputy Commander of EUNAVFOR Operation ATALANTA.

Éric Dousson holds an engineering degree from the French Naval Academy (1993) and a diploma in Advanced Military Studies from French War College (2006). He was also an auditor of the Institution of Higher National Defense Studies (IHEDN) (2016).

He is Officer of the Legion of Honour, Officer of the French National Order of Merit and Knight of the Maritime Merit.

He is married and has three children.

Force Commander
The Force Commander (FCdr) exercises command and control of all military forces in the area of operation.
Rear Admiral Lower Half Francesco Saladino

Rear Admiral Lower Half Francesco Saladino was born in Mazara del Vallo (TP) on Sept. 12, 1973.

He attended the Livorno Naval Academy from 1993 to 1997, where he earned a degree in Maritime Science and a bachelor's degree in Electronic Engineering. He also holds a degree in political science from the University of Trieste.

In 1998, he qualified as a Telecommunications and Surface officer and in 2002 he obtained a certificate in "Naval Tactics" at Maricentadd Taranto. During the academic year 2006, he attended the Normal Staff Course at the Institute of Maritime Military Studies and in the academic year 2013/2014 he attended the Naval Command College at the U.S. Navy's Naval War College.

From the year 1997 to 2006, he served aboard the Ship Vittorio Veneto, Ship Zeffiro and Ship Mimbelli, holding the positions of Course Officer, Telecommunication Component Chief, Ship Conduct and Weather Component Chief, Radar Component Chief. In 2000-2001, he held the post of Subordinate Officer to the First Class of Normal Courses in the Naval Academy. In 2006-2007, he commanded Ship Vega. From 2007 to 2010, embarked on Ship Garibaldi, he served as Radar Component Chief and then as Operations Department Chief. Subsequently, from 2010 to 2014, he was assigned to the Financial Planning and Programming Office of the Navy General Staff.

From 2015 to 2016 he commanded the frigate, FREMM class, Carabiniere, participating in the European Union's anti-piracy operation EUNAVFOR - Operation Atalanta.

From 2016 to 2021, he served as Head of the Office far Relations with Parliament in the Cabinet of the Minister of Defense.

On September 10, 2021, he assumed command of the aircraft carrier Cavour, flagship unit of the Navy's Naval Squadron.

On November 21, 2022, he assumed the post as Head of the Undersecretary of State for Defence On. Perego di Cremnago's Office.

Commander Saladin is been awarded the following honors:

  • Medal of Honor for long navigation (10 years);
  • Silver Cross for length of service (16 years);
  • Con1memorative Cross for peace operations in Lebanon;
  • Commemorative Medal for Operation Active Endeavour;
  • Almirante Brion Naval Medal
  • The United Nations Peacekeeping Medal in Lebanon;
  • Ribbon of Merit for service with the Naval Staff (2 years);
  • Gold Cross for length of service (25 years);
  • EU NAVFOR Medal - Operation Atalanta;
  • Military Commando Long Service Merit Medal (bronze);
  • Badge for personnel belonging to the direct cooperation offices of the Minister of Defense;
  • Nacional Commemorative Medal for anti-piracy operations;
  • Knight of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic.

He is married to Paola and has two daughters, Doria and Flora.