Brigadier General José María Alonso

Director of Operations Spanish Air Combat Command

In summer 1995, following graduation from Spanish Air Force Academy (46th Class) and qualified as fighter pilot, he is assigned to 12th Wing in Torrejón AFB, equipped with EF-18 "Hornets", until 2002. During this seven year´s assignment, he flew in different NATO´s operational missions in support of Balkan Operations, including Deny Flight, Joint Endeavour, Joint Guardian, Joint Forge and Allied Force. In addition, he had the opportunity to participate in advanced and complex combined exercises like Red Flag, Green Flag, and NOMAD among others. From 2002 to 2011, he was assigned to the Air Force Academy as an Instructor Pilot, flying the Spanish trainer C-101. He was also a member of the Spanish Aerobatic Team "Patrulla Aguila" for seven years in the solo and leader positions. After this period, he completed the XIII Joint Staff Course of the Spanish Armed Forces. In summer 2013, he was assigned to the NATO Joint force Command, in Naples, as a Subject Matter Expert in air operations. After that, and as a Lieutenant Colonel, he was assigned to the Spanish Air Operations Centre (AOC) of the Air Combat Command (MACOM), located in Torrejon AB, until the summer of 2019. In August 2019, he was reassigned to the Air Force Academy, as Head of Studies and Deputy Director of the academy. Three years later, he was reassigned, as a colonel, to the AOC. In July 2024, he was appointed as Wing Commander of 12th Wing in Torrejon AFB, still equipped with EF-18s. After ending in the 12th Wing, in the summer of 2026, he commanded the Spanish detachment in Australia for the participation in the exercise Pitch Black 2026. On October 13th, was promoted as Brigadier General and assigned again to the Air Combat Command as Air Operations Centre Chief and Director of Operations of the MACOM HQ. Throughout his career, he has accumulated more than 4.700 flying hours, most of them in jets/fighters and trainers (EF-18 and C-101). He is married and has three children.