Commander of Spanish Maritime Forces

VA Juan Bautista Pérez Puig was born in 1964 in Alicante. He joined the Spanish Navy in 1984 and was promoted to Lieutenant Junior Grade in 1989.

During his first assignments up to Lieutenant Commander, he served on the Fleet: Light Frigate “Diana” and AAW Frigate “Andalucía”. He also served upon the warfare staff of Spanish Operational Sea Training Centre in Rota and the Spanish Strike Group Command afloat as Staff Operations Officer.

Ashore, he served upon the Spanish Navy Staff in Madrid, working as Head of the Operational Requirements Branch and as Head of Resources Branch, both on the Plans and Policy Division. On the Joint assignments, he served on the Joint Defense Staff (Madrid) in the Strategic Planning Branch of Plans and Policy Division. Later he went overseas as Deputy NLR to the Spanish National Liaison Representation to NATO Supreme Allied Command Transformation in Norfolk.

In June 2021 he was promoted to Rear Admiral and assigned as Deputy Director General Plans and International Relations of the Defense Policy Directorate of the Ministry of Defense.

As Commanding Officer, he served four SPN Warships: Patrol Boat “Espalmador” (1991), Fast Patrol Boat “Laya” (2000), Mine Hunter “Sella” (2005) and Frigate “Numancia” (2014) and was COS for the Maritime Action Force HQ and Maritime Security and Surveillance Command HQ in Cartagena (2017).

Through his different assignments, he participated in operations like “Liberation of Kuwait”, Operations “Sharp Guard” and “Active Endeavour” and Operation “Sophia” from EU, in addition to several NATO deployments in Standing Naval Groups of frigates and minehunters.

In the academic area, he took courses on Missiles, Gunnery and Fire Control Systems, Above Water Warfare Officer Course, Principal Warfare Officer Course and Joint Staff Course, NATO Operational Planning Course and Homeland Defense Fellowship Program at the NDU (USA). Later the EU Senior Strategic Course and NATO Generals, Flag Officers and Ambassadors Course.

He speaks English and French and along his career, has been awarded with eighteen national and international military decorations.

In September 2024 he was promoted to Vice Admiral and appointed Commander Spanish Maritime Forces Headquarters (SPMARFOR) at Rota Naval Base (Cadiz), as part of the High Readiness Maritime Headquarters of the NATO Force Structure, which remains his current assignment.

VA Pérez Puig is married and has four children.