Lieutenant General Julio Nieto Sampayo
Lieutenant General D. Julio Nieto Sampayo was born in Valladolid on February 9, 1964. In 1981 he joined the Selection Center of the General Air Academy (CSAGA) as part of the IX Promotion, and the following year at the General Air Academy (AGA).
In September 1986 he began the Hunting and Attack Course in Wing 23, going to the AGA, as a teacher, where he remained until 2000. During this time he was an exchange flight instructor at the U.S. Air Force Academy. (USAFA, Colorado Springs, CO) between 1989 and 1991, Eagle Patrol pilot, point and leader, for ten seasons, and developed his activity as an E.25 flight teacher at Basic School, in the Department of Studies and in the Student Squadron.
In 1998 he became Commander, remaining assigned to the AGA as a teacher. In February 2000 he was assigned to Wing 11, held the course of C.15 in the 153 Squadron of Wing 15, serving as Chief of the Maintenance Squadron and Acting Chief of Group 11. In August 2003 he was assigned again to USAFA as professor of the Spanish language chair, for two years.
In 2005 he was selected to be part of the 7th General Staff Course at the Higher School of the Armed Forces, CESEDEN. In 2006 he became Lieutenant Colonel and went to the Cabinet of JEMA. In 2008 he was assigned to Wing 11 as Head of Air Force and Chief of Material, remaining until 2014, the year in which he is promoted to the employment of Colonel, moving to the Logistics Support Command.
He was appointed Head of Albacete Air Base, Ala 14 and Air Military Commander of Valencia Airport in July 2015. In August 2017 he went to the Logistics Support Command, Head of the Hunting Systems and RPA Section of the Sustainability Directorate, until he was promoted to the employment of Brigadier General in July 2019.
After two years as Chief General of the Operations Division of the Air General Staff, he was promoted in July 2021 to the employment of Major General and appointed General Second Chief and Chief of Staff of the Air Combat Command. In September 2022 he was appointed Chief General of the General Air Command.
In November 2023, by Royal Decree 962/2023, of November 28, he became Lieutenant General of the General Corps of the Air and Space Army, being appointed Second Chief of Staff of the Air and Space Army.