Rear-admiral António Mateus was born in Lisbon in 1967, joined the Portuguese Navy in 1985 and was promoted to the present rank in 2023.

He is a Naval Officer, a Naval Architect and a Marine Engineer, currently the Director of Ships, the strategic decision maker responsible for the through lifecycle management of all naval operational assets and means, ranging from submarines, surface warships, helicopters, weapons, ammo, unmanned vehicles, encompassing all phases, from its genetics (design, building, procurement and acquisition, etc.), to sustainment (maintenance, ILS, upkeep and upgrades), and disposal at the end of its life (including alienation or recycling).

Amongst other academic and professional qualifications and accreditations, he is a Chartered Engineer (CENG) by the Portuguese Order of Engineers, and holds a Master of Science in Naval Architecture from University College London, United Kingdom and a BSc in Marine Engineering from the Portuguese Naval Academy.

Being an engineer and manager with wide range defence and industrial experience including the leadership and management of international programmes and projects since 2004, as well as directive roles at naval shipyard as technical, production and business development director, and a professional mechanical engineer and naval architect with a balanced record between research, industrial and design experience, his career highlights include:

§ Deputy Director of Ships, at the Portuguese Navy Directorate of Ships, 2023

§ Strategic Portfolio Manager for Naval Programmes, encompassing the New Generation Frigates, Mid-Life Upgrade Program of MEKO 200PN and M-Class frigates, the AOR replacement programme,

the Coastal Patrol Vessel programme, 2021/23;

§ Flag Officers Course, at the Military University Institute, with research and course thesis on “Naval

Genetic Strategy”, 2021;

§ Programme Manager New Generation Frigates, since 2020;

§ Programme Manager for the Mid-Life Upgrade Program of M-Class frigates, based in the

Netherlands, 2018/21