Second Chief of Staff of the Air and Space Army - Ministry of Defence

Lieutenant General Javier Hernández Antuña

Lieutenant General Javier Hernández Antuña was born on November 12, 1962. He joined the Air and Space Army in 1981, developing an extensive and distinguished military and academic career. Throughout his career, he has completed solid training, including the National Defense Course, the Air Staff Diploma, and specialized courses such as Flight Security, Law of War, and High Human Resource Management. He is also a transport and helicopter pilot, with instrumental flight qualification, and holds a Master's Degree in Environmental Management.

At the international level, he has completed the Multinational Staff Officers Orientation course.

His professional career includes operational, teaching and high responsibility destinations. He began as a rescue pilot in the 803 Squadron, then became chief of operations in the 48th Wing. He was a flight professor and head of flight safety at the General Air Academy. Subsequently, he served in the Personnel Command and served as technical adviser to the Minister of Defence.

He served as an Air Attaché at the Spanish Embassy in Rabat and was head of the Military School of Helicopters. He was promoted to brigadier general as second head of the Air Command of the Canary Islands and head of its General Staff, and later, he was head of the General Secretariat of the General Staff of Air and Space.

Between 2022 and 2024 he headed the Teaching Directorate of the Personnel Command, and since 2024 he has held the position of second Chief of Staff of the Air and Space Army.

He has been distinguished with numerous decorations, including the Grand Cross, Plate, Encomienda and Cross of the Royal and Military Order of San Hermenegildo, the Grand Cross and five Crosses of Aeronautical Merit with white badge, the Cross of Military Merit and Naval Merit, as well as encomiendas of Isabel the Catholic and Civil Merit. He also has the permanent badge of professor, the Medal of Sufferings for the Homeland, the Cross of Merit of the Civil Guard and the NATO Medal for his participation in the ISAF mission.