Seven royal decrees promote officers to generals of the Army and Air Force

The Council of Ministers has approved seven royal decrees promoting two major generals and five brigadier generals in the Army and the Air and Space Force. The provisions, signed by King Felipe VI and countersigned by the Minister of Defense, Margarita Robles Fernández, are published in the Official State Gazette (BOE) no. 257, dated October 16, 2026, within section II.A of appointments.

The promotions were agreed upon at the proposal of the Minister of Defense and following deliberation by the Council of Ministers at its meeting on October 13, 2026, and the royal decrees are dated October 14. These are seven independent resolutions, numbered from Royal Decree 834/2026 to Royal Decree 840/2026, occupying pages 138440 to 138446 of the gazette.

The promotion to the rank of major general—the second tier of the general officer category—falls to two brigadier generals of the General Corps of the Army. The remaining five promotions elevate colonels from the Army and the Air and Space Force to brigadier general, in a round that renews intermediate and senior commands of both forces.

Two new major generals of the Army

• Martín Zalvide Torrente, brigadier general of the General Corps of the Army, is promoted to major general by Royal Decree 834/2026 (reference BOE-A-2026-21531, p. 138440).
• Fernando Ruiz Gómez, brigadier general of the same corps, is promoted to major general by Royal Decree 835/2026 (reference BOE-A-2026-21532, p. 138441).

Both provisions follow the usual formula for these appointments: “At the proposal of the Minister of Defense, and following deliberation by the Council of Ministers,” with the King’s signature and the countersignature of the head of Defense.

Two Army colonels promoted to brigadier general

• Jesús Manuel Martínez Victoria, colonel of the General Corps of the Army, is promoted to brigadier general by Royal Decree 836/2026 (reference BOE-A-2026-21533, p. 138442).
• Jesús Flecha Sabater, colonel of the General Corps of the Army, is promoted to brigadier general by Royal Decree 837/2026 (reference BOE-A-2026-21534, p. 138443).

With these two promotions, the Army adds four advancements on the same day: two to the rank of major general and two to that of brigadier general.

Three new brigadier generals for the Air and Space Force

• César Miguel Pérez Moriano, colonel of the General Corps of the Air and Space Army, is promoted to brigadier general by Royal Decree 838/2026 (reference BOE-A-2026-21535, p. 138444).
• Bayardo Abós Álvarez-Buiza, colonel of the General Corps of the Air and Space Army, is promoted to brigadier general by Royal Decree 839/2026 (reference BOE-A-2026-21536, p. 138445).
• José María Alonso Martínez, colonel of the General Corps of the Air and Space Army, is promoted to brigadier general by Royal Decree 840/2026 (reference BOE-A-2026-21537, p. 138446).

The three decrees share an identical structure and motivation, positioning the Air and Space Army as the corps with the most promotions to the rank of brigadier general in this round.

The publication of these seven royal decrees in the BOE confirms the partial renewal of the military leadership and the senior commands of the Army and the Air and Space Army. For readers, the bulletin offers full traceability of each promotion—royal decree number, official reference, and page—allowing verification of who is promoted, to what rank, and with what regulatory backing, in a procedure that combines the proposal of the Ministry of Defense with the deliberation of the Council of Ministers and the royal sanction.

Source: Official State Gazette (BOE), no. 257, of October 16, 2026, section II.A (Appointments, situations, and incidents), pp. 138440-138446 (official references: BOE-A-2026-21531 to BOE-A-2026-21537).