Captain Paulo Simões has over 30 years of service as a Naval officer. He has served as the national representative on the staff of a high-readiness NATO force based in Rota, Spain,
and has commanded the frigate NRP Álvares Cabral on various missions, both in support of NATO operations and for diplomatic and foreign policy purposes.

Ashore, he has held roles within the Navy General Staff in the Planning Division, focusing on strategy. He has represented the Navy in various NATO forums and has been involved in
multiple transformation and experimentation projects. He has commanded the Navy Helicopter Squadron, Directed the Navy Operational Experimentation Centre in Troia—dedicated to innovation and emerging technologies, with a particular emphasis on unmanned systems, artificial intelligence, data management, and command and control systems—and led the Information Networks and Systems Division. He currently serves as the Chief of the Innovation and Transformation Division in the Navy Staff.

Academically, he has completed postgraduate studies in Maritime Transport Management and Port Management, as well as in Strategy, and holds an MBA in Business Management.