Cdr. Fernando Aguirre Pastor was born in Cartagena in 1978. He was promoted to Cdr. in July 2021. He joined the Spanish Naval Academy in 1997, being promoted to Lieutenant junior Grade (OF-1) in 2002.

He is specialized in Submarines, Communications and as a Joint Staff Officer graduating in Paris in 2017. In 2016 he applied and later obtained the French Submarine Commanding Officers Qualifying Course.

From September 2010 to September 2012 he participated in an exchange program with the French Navy and was assigned onboard the French nuclear submarines “Rubis” and “Amethyste”.

Cdr Aguirre has been engaged in several international naval operations: Enduring Freedom Operation, in support of US fight against terrorism in the Horn of Africa; Active Endeavour Operation, a NATO maritime operation to prevent terrorism in the Mediterranean Sea and Unified Protector, a NATO operation concerning “Libyan Civil War”. His tours ashore include Submarine Controller in COMSUBSAUTH as an “Augmentee” liason officer in Capodichino-Naples.

Following his naval and submarine school training, he served in both surface and submarine units, highlighting his appointments as XO in MH “Tajo” and SSK “Tramontana”.

Cdr. Aguirre was submarine Mistral Commanding Officer from June 2017 to December 2018.
From 2019 to 2021 he was Operational Officer to the Spanish Submarine Authority. From 2021 to 2024 he has been responsible of S80 Combat System and was in charge of the training and certification of S81 crew, previous and during the sea trials. Actually, he is the chief of S80 operative group and he will be S82 captain during the sea trials.

His personal decorations include both national and international military awards. He speaks fluent English and French. He is married to Maysa has five children named: Javier, Maysa, Fernando, Iñigo and Carlota.