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João Cartaxo Alves
Chief of Defence
Portugal
Mar 2026 - Present
Portugal
Mar 2026 - Present
General João Cartaxo Alves was born in Almada, in December 26th, 1962.
In October, 1980, he joined the Military Academy on the Military Aeronautical Sciences Course.
In December, 1985, he got his pilot wings at Air Base 1, in Sintra.
In January, 1986, he was placed at Air Base 5, in Monte Real, where he completed the Fighting Aircraft Complementary Course, and flew the T-33, at the 103 Squadron.
Hereinafter, he was placed at Air Base 3, in Tancos, where he completed a multi-engine aircraft complementary course, flying the CASA C-212 (Aviocar), at 111 Squadron.
From 1986 to 1991, he joined the 502 Transport Squadron at Air Base 3 in Tancos, where he got his qualification on C-212, as pilot in command, undertaking the role of Electronic and Intelligence Warfare Officer of the Unit.
In January 1992, he was placed at 501 Squadron at Air Base 6, in Montijo, where he flew C-130H becoming pilot in command and instructor pilot.
During the lecturing year of 1993/94, he attended the Air Warfare General Course at the Higher Studies Air Force Institute.
After the course, he returned to Air Base 6, where in 1995, he committed to his duties as Operations Officer of 501 Transportation Squadron.
In September, 1997, he moved to lead the Accident Prevention Office of Air Base 6.
In April, 1998, he was appointed Commander of 501 Transport Squadron, a position he occupied until 2002. During this timeframe, he engaged in numerous national and international missions, including IFOR, SFOR, KFOR, UNTAET, Alba, and ISAF.
In June, 2002, he was appointed as 61 Operational Wing Commander and, later, the Second-in-Command of Air Base 6.
From 2003 to 2004, he performed his role as Chief of Planning Department (A5) of the Air Force Operational Command in Monsanto, Lisbon.
In August, 2004, he was assigned to a mission at NATO in RFAS (Reaction Force Air Staff), in Kalkar, Germany, as Air Policy Staff Officer.
In 2005, the first NATO’s Center of Excellence was created, where he promptly assumed his position as Air Transportation Supervising Officer to integrate the JAPCC (Joint Air Power Competence Centre).
In August, 2007, as a Colonel, he was appointed Chief of Staff of the Operational Command of the Air Force.
In September, 2008, he was assigned to Command Air Base 6 until October of 2010.
In the lecturing year of 2010/2011, he attended the General Promotion Course in the Higher Military Studies Institute.
After the course, he took on the functions of Head of Air Command Operations and Director of Operations of NATO Combined Air Operations Centre 10, in Monsanto, Lisbon.
In November, 2012, when NATO’s Major Commands were restructured and a unified CAOC was created for the southern region, he was graduated Brigadier-General in order to integrate the initial unit at NATO Combined Air Operations Centre in Torrejon, Madrid, where he performed his functions as Director of Operations.
In October, 2014, as a Major-General, he was assigned to the position of Head of Air Force Training Directorate.
In July, 2015 he was assigned to be Second-in-Command at Air Command, having filled the position of Acting Air Commander from February of 2016 onwards.
On October 6th, 2016, he was appointed Head of the Air Force Chief of Staff Cabinet.
On January 4th, 2018, he became Deputy General Director of the General Directorate of National Defense Resources, a position he held until 15th of May, 2019.
During this period, he was appointed and served as national representative on the NATO Logistics Committee, on the NATO Resource Policy and Planning Board, on the Agency Supervisory Board of the NATO Support and Procurement Organization, the NATO Science & Technology Board of NATO and the Long-Term Review of the European Defense Agency. During the same period, he was Deputy National Director of Armaments, and participated as a national representative in the plenary sessions of the National Armaments Directors of NATO and the European Defense Agency.
Throughout his career, he participated in several studies and working groups, among which the National Aeronautical Authority and its National and International Framework in 2011, the Study of the Impact of the Implementation of a Civil Aeronautical Infrastructure at Air Base 6, Montijo, in 2017, and, as Director of the Working Group, the program for “Acquisition and operation of amphibious aircraft”, in 2014, and the program for “Strategic Transport Aircraft KC-390”, that starts running in 2015.
In May 2019, he assumed the role of Air Force Logistics Commander.
Four years later, he was promoted to the rank of General on February 25th, 2022, and took over as Air Force Chief of Staff.
Throughout his career, he flew over 9000 flight hours in several different aircraft.
His service sheet includes various public praises and medals, including the following: the Grand Cross of the Military Order of Avis, four Gold Medal for Services to the State (one collaborative), two Silver Medal for Services to the State, a National Defense Medal (1st class), a Naval Cross Medal (1st class), an Aeronautic Merit Medal (1st class), two Military Merit Medals (1st and 2nd Class), a Gold and Silver Medal for Exemplary Behavior, four Commemorative Medals for Special Service Commissions and the D. Afonso Henriques Medal – Army Merit, First Class
He was also graced with several foreign medals as a Grand Officer of the Order of Aeronautical Merit of the Federative Republic of Brazil, the Santos-Dumont Medal of Merit of the Brazilian Air Force, the Official Category of the Miguel Antonio Caro Symbolic Unity Medal of the Colombian National Army, a Grand Cross for Aeronautic Merit with white pin ordered by the King of Spain and a Medal of Merit in bronze of the Royal Netherlands Air and Space Force.
In 1st of March took over the leadership as Chief of Defence.
General João Cartaxo Alves is married and has two sons.