Teodoro Esteban López Calderón (born 3 May 1954) is a

Spanish Navy The Spanish Navy, officially the Armada, is the Navy, maritime branch of the Spanish Armed Forces and one of the oldest active naval forces in the world. The Spanish Navy was responsible for a number of major historic achievements in navigation ...

officer who is serving as the 12th and current Chief of the Defence Staff of the

Spanish Armed Forces The Spanish Armed Forces are in charge of guaranteeing the sovereignty and independence of the Spain, Kingdom of Spain, defending its territorial integrity and the constitutional order, according to the functions entrusted to them by the Spanish ...

since 27 January 2021. Previously, he served as Admiral Chief of Staff of the Navy from 2017 and 2021.

Biography

López Calderón was born in 1954 in the city of Cartagena and joined the

after graduating at the

Escuela Naval Militar The Naval Military Academy (), at Marín, Pontevedra, Marín, Province of Pontevedra, Pontevedra, in north-western Spain, is a coeducational naval academy that educates officers for commissioning primarily into the Spanish Navy and Spanish Navy Ma ...

in 1973. He is a specialist in electronics, tactics and weapons systems. He also completed various courses locally and abroad, such as the Senior Course at the

NATO Defense College NATO Defense College (NDC) is the international military college for NATO, North Atlantic Treaty Organization countries. It is located in Rome, Italy. History The idea of a NATO Defense College originated with General Dwight D. Eisenhower, t ...

, the Navy General Staff Course, Electronics Expert courses, and the Tactical Action Office course. Throughout his naval career, he held the command of the Villaamil (P-04) patrol vessel, the 2nd Minesweeper Squadron , the frigate Cataluña (F73), the 41st Escort Squadron (Frigates), and the Naval Action Group 2. During the latter, López Calderón took part in Operation Active Endeavor, as the 2nd Group included the Spanish surface ships that were assigned to the mission.http://www.galiciaartabradigital.com/archivos/154501 El almirante general Teodoro López Calderón nombrado nuevo AJEMA
. GaliciaArtabra. Published 31 March 2017. Retrieved 2 August 2017. He also served on various ships of the Spanish Navy, such as the Descubierta (F31), the Asturias (F74), the Extremadura (F75), and the Numancia (F83). He also served as the Chief of Staff of the 21st Escort Squadron and as a Staff member of the "Delta" Group, a task group in charge of monitoring the maritime borders of the Basque Country to prevent weapons smuggling and against the clandestine trafficking of terrorist related operations. He also served at the

U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command (also known as USNAVSO) is the naval element of United States Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM). Its areas of operation include South America, Central America, the Caribbean and surrounding waters. Its headquarters ...

on 1997, and the

Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 (SNMG2) is a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) standing maritime immediate reaction force. SNMG2 consists of four to six destroyers and frigates. Its role is to provide NATO with an immediate operational r ...

, and as the Chief of the General Staff for Operations and Deputy Chief of the General Staff at the Operations Command. He also served as the President of the Spanish Section of the Hispano-North American Standing Committee, and also served at the Headquarters of the Strategic Plans Section of the Plans Division of the Navy General Staff and Operations of the Naval Operational Command Staff. From 1987 to 1996 he served as an elective member of the Electronic Warfare Doctrine Board of the Navy. He also served a technical adviser to the

Minister of Defense A ministry of defence or defense (see spelling differences), also known as a department of defence or defense, is the part of a government responsible for matters of defence and military forces, found in states where the government is divid ...

and head of the Navy General Staff's strategic planning section. López Calderón also served as the Chief of the General Staff for Operations and Deputy Chief of the General Staff at the Operations Command on the Defence Staff.El cartagenero Teodoro López, nuevo almirante jefe de Estado Mayor de la Armada
. ''Laverdad''. Published 31 March 2017. Retrieved 2 August 2017. He was appointed by the

Council of Ministers Council of Ministers is a traditional name given to the supreme Executive (government), executive organ in some governments. It is usually equivalent to the term Cabinet (government), cabinet. The term Council of State is a similar name that also m ...

as the replacement of Admiral General

Jaime Muńoz-Delgado Jaime is a common Spanish and Portuguese male given name for Jacob (name), James (name), Jamie, or Jacques. In Occitania Jacobus became ''Jacome'' and later ''Jacme''. In east Spain, ''Jacme'' became ''Jaime'', in Aragon it became ''Chaime'', and i ...

on 31 March 2017 as the new Chief of Staff of the Navy. In November 2020, after the Vox political party requested that Navy ships block the arrival of illegal boats to the

Canary Islands The Canary Islands (; ) or Canaries are an archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean and the southernmost Autonomous communities of Spain, Autonomous Community of Spain. They are located in the northwest of Africa, with the closest point to the cont ...

, the head of the Navy settled the issue by publicly declaring that "if any Spanish warship is found with a boat in a situation where the lives of those on it are in danger, its f the Navyobligation of all kinds, legal and moral, is to rescue them. And that's what they would do." In January 2021, after the resignation of JEMAD

Miguel Ángel Villarroya Miguel Ángel Villarroya Vilalta (born 15 May 1957) is a Spanish Air and Space Force general who served as the 11th Chief of the Defence Staff of Spain from 2020 to 2021. Before this, from 2017 to 2020 he was the Chief of the Technical Cabinet ...

, he was appointed as the 12th

Chief of Staff The title chief of staff (or head of staff) identifies the leader of a complex organization such as the armed forces, institution, or body of persons and it also may identify a principal staff officer (PSO), who is the coordinator of the supportin ...

of the

Awards and decorations

; * Grand Cross of Naval Merit * Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Civil Guard * ESP Orden de San Hermenegildo Gran Cruz pasador

Grand Cross of the

Royal and Military Order of San Hermenegildo Royal may refer to: People * Royal (name), a list of people with either the surname or given name * A member of a royal family or royalty Places United States * Royal, Arkansas, an unincorporated community * Royal, Illinois, a village * Royal, ...

ESP Orden de San Hermenegildo Placa pasador

Commander with Star of the

ESP Orden de San Hermenegildo Encomienda pasador

Commander of the

ESP Orden de San Hermenegildo Cruz pasador

Cross of the

Cross of Military Merit The Cross of Military Merit () is Spain's military awards for gallantry or merit in war or peace and is awarded to members of the Spanish Armed Forces, Guardia Civil or civilians. History and attribution Established on 3 August 1864 by Queen ...

Cross of Naval Merit The Cross of Naval Merit () is a Spanish military award for gallantry or merit in war or peace. Awarded to members of the Spanish Naval Forces, Guardia Civil or civilians. History and Attribution Established on 3 August 1866 by Queen Isabell ...

(Five Times) * Cross of the Order Guard Merit of the Civil Guard * Cross of the Order Police Merit ; *

Officer of the Order of Australia The Order of Australia is an Australian honours and awards system, Australian honour that recognises Australian citizens and other persons for outstanding achievement and service. It was established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Monarch ...

– 3 May 2022 – For distinguished service in strengthening the defence relationship between Australia and Spain through personal commitment, engagement and support to Australia. ; * Ordre national du Merite Chevalier ribbon

Ordre national du Merite Chevalier ribbon

Chevalier of the Order of National Merit of the French Republic ; *

NATO Meritorious Service Medal The NATO Medal is an international military decoration which is awarded to various militaries of the world under the authority of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). It is manufactured by Eekelers-Centini Intl, of Hemiksem, Belgium. Ba ...

* Article 5 Medal for Operation Active Endeavor ; * Meritorious Service Medal ribbon

Meritorious Service Medal A Meritorious Service Medal is an award presented to denote acts of meritorious service, and sometimes gallantry, that are worthy of recognition. Notable medals with similar names include: Singapore *Pingat Jasa Gemilang, or Meritorious Services Me ...

Personal life

He is married with five children and also has two grandchildren. He can speak fluent

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Culture, language and peoples * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England * ''English'', an Amish ter ...

along with his native

Spanish Spanish might refer to: * Items from or related to Spain: **Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain **Spanish language, spoken in Spain and many countries in the Americas **Spanish cuisine **Spanish history **Spanish culture ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lopez Calderon, Teodoro Esteban 1954 births Living people Chiefs of staff of the Navy (Spain) Chiefs of the Defence Staff (Spain) Military personnel from Cartagena, Spain Spanish admirals 21st-century Spanish naval officers 20th-century Spanish naval officers Honorary officers of the Order of Australia