Colonel Daniel Fernández de Bobadilla

Commander 23rd Fighter Wing Spanish Air and Space Force

Colonel Daniel Fernandez de Bobadilla Lorenzo was born in Madrid (Spain) in 1972. He is currently Talavera Air Base and 23rd Fighter Wing Commander, Director of the Spanish Air and Space Force Fighter and Attack School which operates the F-5M. The 23rd FW is also home to 233rd Squadron, operating the MQ-9 Predator B.

Col. Bobadilla was commissioned as Lieutenant through the SpASF Academy in 1997, becoming a Fighter Pilot. His first assignment was as an Instructor Pilot in the 23rd FW at Talavera AB, Badajoz, Spain, where, as a member of 231st Fighter Squadron, he provided Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals to SpASF Academy 5th year students flying the F-5B Freedom Fighter. In 2002, Captain Bobadilla transitioned to the F/A-18 Hornet and reported to 462nd Fighter Squadron in Gando AB (Canary Islands). While there, he attended the US Air Force International Flight Safety Officer Course at Kirtland AFB (New Mexico) in 2005, having held several jobs as Flight Safety Officer since then at the Squadron, Wing and Command levels. 

Having been selected in 2016 by the SpASF, LtCol. Bobadilla attended the US Air Force Air Command and Staff College at the Air University in Maxwell AFB (Alabama). While there, he earned a Master’s Degree in Military Operational Art and Science, graduated as Distinguished Graduate and was awarded the General Robbie Risner International Officer Leadership Award for “Outstanding Professionalism, Leadership and Academic Achievement”. As a Staff Officer, in 2017 he reported to the Spanish Joint Operations Command - Operations Branch (J3), where he served as Current Operations Analyst, providing advice and follow up expertise on the participation of Spanish forces in operations EUNAVFORMED Atalanta, EUNAVFORMED Sophia, and Baltic Air Policing (BAP). Between 2018 and 2021, LtCol. Bobadilla was assigned to the SpASF Air Combat Command - Exercises, Training and Evaluation Branch (A7), where he was designated as Project Officer for the planning and execution phases of the SpASF main advanced training exercises, including being Project Lead for the SpASF participation in Exercise Red Flag 20-2. During this time, he obtained a Master’s Degree in Peace, Security and Defence through the General Gutierrez Mellado University Institute of Madrid.

Prior to being promoted to Colonel and receiving his new orders, LtCol. Bobadilla served a three-year tour as the Senior National Representative of the SpASF Technical Logistics Management Office (TLMO), located at the Embassy of Spain Defense Attaché Office in Washington DC, where he led the organization responsible for the management of SpASF FMS cases in liaison with US Implementing Agencies. Col. Bobadilla has logged a total of 3.250 hours flying fighters (1.650 hours in the F-5B and 1.400 hours in the F/A-18 Hornet), speaks English and French, and has been awarded three SpASF Aeronautical Meritorious Cross with White Decoration, the Cross, Commendation and Plaque of the Royal and Military Order of Saint Hermenegild, and the NATO ISAF medal.