Home > Speakers > Major General Isaac Manuel Crespo Zaragoza
Major General Isaac Manuel Crespo Zaragoza
Major General Isaac Manuel Crespo Zaragoza
Job Title
Chief of Staff of the Space Command
Organization
Mando del Espacio (MESPA)
Major General Isaac Crespo (Alicante, 09APR65) graduated from the Spanish Air Force Academy as the #1 of his Fighter Pilot Class in 1988. His first assignment was Ala 23 as an instructor pilot for the fighter-bomber course (F-5).
In July 1993, he was assigned to the Ala 15 (F-18). During this assignment, he took part in 73 combat missions over the Balkans.
In January 2000, he promoted to Major and was assigned to the Plans Division of the Spanish Air Force Staff (EMA), with relevant contributions to the F-18 MLU programme, TAURUS and IRIS-T missile integrations, among other projects.
In July 2002, he moved on to the Eurofighter Programme Office at the Logistics Command for EF-2000 implementation. Shortly after, he finalized Eurofighter conversion, eventually became instructor pilot in the Ala 11 (EF) and later he was the first 113 Operational Conversion Squadron commander from 2003 until 2005. He then became functional check pilot and Maintenance Squadron commander at the same unit (2005-2007).
In August 2008, he was assigned to the Operations Command at the Joint Staff (EMAD/MOPS). During this period, he took part on plans development for Afghanistan
Reconstruction and Atalanta Operations and in July 2009, he promoted to Lieutenant Colonel.
Then, from July 2010 until July 2013, he took a position in NETMA. Afterwards he came back to the Plans Division of the EMA. During this period, he was appointed as Logistics Chief of the Forward Support Base (FSB Herat), in Afghanistan from July until November 2014.
In July 2016, he promoted to Colonel and stayed at EMA as Chief of the Programmes
Branch, Plans Division. In July 2018, he was appointed as Commander of the Ala 15 (F18M) and two years thereafter, he took over as the Fighters and RPAS Branch Chief at the Directorate of Operational Sustainment in the Logistics Command.
In July 2021, he promoted to Brigadier General and on 14 September 2021, he was appointed as the Chief of Cabinet for de ESP Air Force Chief of Staff.
In february 2024, he was promoted to Major General and he was appointed as Air Force Space Commander.
General Crespo has more than 2700 flight hours (900+ F-5, 1100+ F-18, 300+ EF). He’s been awarded with several international decorations, such as the NATO Medal, the US Army Achievement Medal or the Wings honoris causa from Uruguay. He also has five Crosses of Aeronautical Merit, amongst other national decorations.
Speaking
17September
09:25 / 10:15
Bibliothèque
Session
Space Commands' Leaders: Shaping the present and future of space defense
