Admiral José Luis Urcelay Verdugo

In his previous position he was the Director Plans and Policy of the Spanish Naval Staff since October 2013. In this capacity he was responsible for developing and implementing Concepts and Capabilities as well as for the Strategic Naval implications of the Spanish participation in International Organizations such as NATO and the European Union. Previously, he was the Spanish Deputy Military Representative to the NATO and EU Military Committees for three years (2010 – 2013).

He has held three Commands afloat (a frigate SPS “Asturias”, a submarine SPS “Delfín” and a Fast Patrol Boat SPS "Villaamil") and spent 2100 days at sea on board submarines and frigates, including a tour as SASWO in in the former STANAVFORMED Staff during the Operations to enforce the United Nations embargo against the Former Yugoslavia.

Ashore, he was Superintendent of the Spanish Naval Academy (2006 –2009); Director of Operations in the Spanish Naval Staff (August 2009 –July 2010) and has worked in various Staff positions at the Strategic, Operational and Tactical levels.

He is a graduate from the Naval War College in Madrid, the NATO Defence College in Rome (Senior Course 97) and attended the first EU Common Security and Defence Policy Senior Mission Leaders Course organized by the European Security and Defence College in cooperation with the Folke Bernadotte Academy of Sweden. He specialized in Submarines and Underwater Warfare and attended the French Navy Submarine Commanding Officers Qualification Course.

Admiral Urcelay and his wife Juana have eight children and five grandchildren.