Major General Jose Luis Souto Aguirre

Major General José L. Souto Aguirre Major General Souto was born in Madrid. He joined the Navy in August 1982 when he entered in the Naval Academy as a Marine. Commissioned a First Lieutenant in July 1987, he successively promoted to Captain in July 1990, to Major in December 1999, to Lieutenant Colonel in July 2008, and to Colonel in September 2015. Maj. Gen. Souto graduated from the Joint Spanish War College in July 2000. He is ancient of Senior Course 125, NATO Defence College (NADEFCOL) in Rome. He is Communications Specialist, and has attended many other national, multinational and NATO Courses regarding Amphibious Operations, Planning, Comms, EW, and CIMIC. After three years as Platoon Commander at the Second Riffle Battalion, once promoted to Captain he commanded the HQ Coy, Second Riffle Battalion and the Communications Coy, Spanish Marine Brigade, “Tercio de Armada” (TEAR). After four years as a lecturer at the Spanish Marine School, he also served as ACOS G-1 at the Spanish Marine Brigade HQ. He served one year as UN Military Observer in Mozambique (ONUMOZ). As a Major, he spent two years as a lecturer at the Amphibious Warfare Department of the Spanish Navy Academy, four years as ACOS G-1 and 6 months as ACOS G-2 at the Spanish Marine Brigade HQ and two years as counsellor in the Spanish CNO Staff. He also spent six months as Chief of Plans Cell at the Multinational Task Force South East HQ (MNTF-SE), NATO Stabilization Forces (SFOR) in Bosnia-Herzegovina. As a LtCol, he was assigned to the Operational Planning Cell, N5, NATO MCC Northwood (UK) for three years. Back to Spain, he served as Secretary at the HQ of the Spanish Marine Force, Chief of Staff of the Spanish Marine Brigade, acting as Chief of Staff of the Spanish Italian Landing Force as well, and staff officer at the Plans Division of the Spanish Navy HQ. As a Col, he served two years as Chief of Staff of the Spanish Marines HQ and four years as ACOS OPS at the HQ of the Spanish Navy Fleet. Promoted to Brigadier General in March 2021, he commanded de Spanish Marine Brigade “Tercio de Armada” from March 2021 to September 2023, when he was appointed as Secretary General of the ESP Navy HQ. Since his promotion to Major General in January 2025 he commands the Spanish Marine Corps. Awarded with the Naval Merit Great Cross, five times with the Naval Merit Cross and once with the Saint Hermenegildo Order Plate, Commendation, Cross and Great