Admiral  Teodoro López Calderón

Admiral Teodoro López Calderón, Chief of Defense Staff
Admiral General Teodoro López Calderón was born in Cartagena (Murcia) on May 3rd 1954. He joined the Spanish Navy in 1973 becoming Lieutenant Jr. Grade on July 16th 1978. He was promoted to Lieutenant in 1981, Lieutenant-Commander in 1990, Commander in 1997, Captain in 2003, Rear-admiral (LH) in 2008, Rear-admiral (UH) in 2011 and Vice-Admiral in November 2012. In March 2017 he was appointed Chief of the Spanish Navy and promoted to the rank of Admiral.

He has been Commander of the Standing NATO Maritime Group Two (SNMG-2), combining his post with that of Commander of surface units, participating in the counter-terrorist Operation "Active Endeavor" in the Mediterranean Sea; the only "Article 5" operation in the history of the Atlantic Alliance.

Admiral López Calderón has also been Commander of the 41st Frigates Squadron, Commanding Officer of frigate "Cataluña", Commander of 2nd Minesweepers´ Squadron, and CO of offshore patrol boat "Villaamil". He has also been Chief of Staff of the 21st Escort Squadron and Staff member of the "Delta" Group; this task group was activated to monitor and seal the maritime borders of the Basque Country to prevent the smuggling of weapons and the clandestine trafficking of terrorist-related people.

Other sea assignments include: corvette "Descubierta" and frigates "Asturias", "Extremadura" and "Numancia", the latter as member of the first crew. He was also integrated into the U.S. Command Staff of USCOMSOLANT (Commander South Atlantic Force, US Atlantic Fleet).

Ashore, Admiral López Calderón has served as Joint Operations Commander and Chief of Staff and Assistant to the Chief of Staff of the same Department. He had previously been President of the Spanish Section of the U.S-Spanish Permanent Committee; Chief of Strategic Plans Section of the Plans Division of the Spanish Naval Staff, Chief of Operations Branch of the Naval Operational Command, and Adviser to the Minister of Defense in his Technical Cabinet.

On 2017 he was promoted to Navy Chief of Staff and since Jan. 2021 he is the Chief of Defense Staff.

Civil and military courses
Navy General Staff Diploma
NATO Defence College 'Senior Course'
Electronics Expert
Tactical Action Officer

Most relevant awards
Grand Cross of Naval Merit
Grand Cross of the Order of St. Hermenegildo
Grand Cross of Aeronautical Merit
Grand Cross of Merit of Guardia Civil

Biographical data
Admiral López Calderón is married and has five children.