Flying sailor heads EU anti-piracy force in Indian Ocean
(B2) Spanish Rear Admiral Ignacio Villanueva Serrano is due to replace Portuguese Commodore José Vizinha Mirones as of March 17 as Force Commander (= at sea) of the EU anti-piracy operation off Somalia (EUNAVFOR Atalanta). He will officiate aboard the Spanish frigate which is already in the Numancia (F-83) area (read: Numancia relays Victoria).
The decision must be adopted by the ambassadors of the Member States meeting in the Political and Security Committee (PSC) in the coming days.
Ignacio Villanueva Serrano comes from the naval air fleet. He commanded it from 2014 to 2016 and also commented in several publications (see here in particular) its birth and its existence.
(NGV)