General Francisco Javier Marcos, new head of the UME

Army Major General Francisco Javier Marcos Izquierdo will assume command of the Emergency Military Unit (UME), “predictably” next week, replacing Lieutenant General Luis Martínez Mejide after his transfer to the reserve.

General Marcos was born in Toledo, where he was director of the Infantry Academy between 2017 and 2019, as reported this Friday by the Ministry of Defense in the press release announcing the appointment.

The division general of the @EjercitoTierra Francisco Javier Marcos Izquierdo has been appointed head of the @UMEgob, replacing Lieutenant General Luís Martínez Meijide after his transfer to the reserve. The new head of the #UME, who was director of the #ACINF and head of the #FAMET,… pic.twitter.com/9KXlCvApi1

– Ministry of Defense (@Defensagob) August 11, 2023

He had recently assumed command of the logistics centers of the Army, a position that he accepted after occupying for three years the headquarters of the Airmobile Forces of this land branch.

Among other destinations, Marcos was in 2010 head of the Afghan Helicopter Unit and in 1998 head of operations of the Spanish unit in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Throughout his career he has participated in other missions abroad such as those in Lebanon, Croatia and Sarajevo..

Likewise, he has been assigned to the General Staff of the Rapid Action Force, the Army General Staff, the JEME Cabinet and the General Directorate of Defense Policy.

Regarding his studies, he belongs to the XLIV Promotion of the General Military Academy and is a graduate of the General Staff. He graduated from the Unites States Army War College and has a master's degree from the US Institute of Strategic Studies, as well as a law degree from the University of Castilla-La Mancha, among other studies..