Major General Carlos Javier Frias Sanchez

Head of Force Development Division Spanish Defence Joint Staff

MAJOR GENERAL (Army) CARLOS JAVIER FRÍAS SÁNCHEZ, Head of the ESP Joint Staff Force Development Division Born on January 30, 1967, in Madrid. He entered the General Military Academy in 1986, graduating as an Artillery Lieutenant in 1991. Among his assignments, he served in the 73rd Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment (Cartagena) as a Lieutenant and Captain. He was later assigned to the Artillery Academy (1998-2001) as a radar instructor for trainees and for courses on fire control systems, target detection and location, and electronic warfare. He was then assigned to the 6th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Group in Ceuta. He completed the Armed Forces General Staff Course in 2004 and was assigned to the Army General Staff at the Center for International Relations. In 2006, he was assigned to the headquarters of the French Rapid Reaction Corps in Lille, France, as a planning officer.In 2009, he returned to the Army General Staff as an analyst in the International Relations Section. In 2012, he assumed command of the VI/30 Anti-Aircraft Artillery Group in Ceuta. In 2015, he was assigned to the Eurocorps Headquarters in Strasbourg, France, as Chief of Future Operations, G-3/5. In 2018, he was promoted to Colonel and took command of the 73rd Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment, based in Cartagena, Murcia, from 2018 to 2020. After his period of command, he was assigned to the Plans Division of the Army General Staff (first half of 2021). Between August 2021 and July 2022, he participated as a student ("auditeur") in the Course of Higher Military Studies (Cours de Hautes Études Militaires - CHEM) of the French Armed Forces. He was promoted to Brigadier General in March 2022. On July 15, 2022, he assumed the position of Director of the Army War College until his promotion to Major General in September 2025. On November 3, 2025, he took up his current position as Head of the Force Development Division of the Joint Defense Staff. He has participated in various international missions, including NATO's Stabilization Force (SFOR) in 1997 and 2000 in Mostar (Bosnia-Herzegovina), both in the area of civil-military cooperation, the European Union's EUFOR/Tchad-RCA operation in Abeche (Chad) in 2009, as Chief of Plans for the mission, and in the European Union operation EUTM/RCA in the Central African Republic in 2016, training local armed forces as Chief of Education. He holds a PhD in Peace and International Security, a Master's Degree in Security and Defense, and a Master's Degree in Strategic Thinking and Global. Among the military courses he has completed, the following stand out: Course of Higher Military Studies (Cours de Hautes Études Militaires – CHEM), French Armed Forces, 2022. Diploma from the Armed Forces General Staff in 2004. Diploma in Fire Control Systems and Target Detection and Location. Diploma in Electronic Warfare from the Army and Air Force. He has been awarded the Grand Cross of Military Merit, the Grand Cross of the Royal and Military Order of San Hermenegildo, Six Crosses of Military Merit, the NATO "Former Yugoslavia" Medal, two Medals for Service in the Common Security and Defense Policy, the Police Cross of Merit, the Knight's Cross of the National Order of Recognition of the Central African Republic, the French National Defense Medal, silver category, and the French Overseas Medal.