The secretary of state for defence (SEDEF) is a senior minister of the Spanish Ministry of Defence responsible for assisting the minister in the policies regarding armament and materiel, military research, development and innovation, economic management, infrastructure, environment, ICT and digital transformation.
Although the secretary of state has the same administrative rank as the Chief of the Defence Staff, the SEDEF does not have military authority. The officeholder is appointed by the Monarch on the advice of the Minister of Defence. The current Secretary of State for Defence, since 11 May 2022, is Ms. Amparo Valcarce, former Under-Secretary of Defence.
History The position of Secretary of State for Defence was established during the 1984 military administration reform. The Secretariat of State addressed "the need to formulate a common policy and ensure its coordinated management across the three military branches".
To achieve this objetive, the secretary of state assumed responsabilities from the Under-Secretary of Defence regarding economic and armament affairs, and replaced it as the second-in-command to the minister. Also, a new Directorate-General for Infrastructure was created to coordinate the military to unify and coordinate the policy on military construction and facilities.
This organizational structure has remained stable over the last few decades, with two exceptions. First, in 2010, digital and communications powers within the Directorate-General for Infrastructure were reorganized, merging various bodies to create the Deputy Directorate-General for Information and Communication Technologies. This body—known since 2015 as the Centre for Information and Communication Systems and Technologies—was elevated to the rank of directorate-general in 2023 and currently reports to the secretary of state. Since 2026, this centre is also responsible for ensuring the security of data and communications for the Royal Household.
Second, in September 2024 a new Directorate-General for Strategy and Innovation of the Defence Industry was established assuming part of the responsibilities of the Directorate-General for Armament and Material regarding business internationalization, military industry support and R&D&I policies.
Organization From the Secretary of State for Defence depends: The Directorate-General for Strategy and Innovation of the Defense Industry (DIGIED). It is responsible for designing the national defense industrial strategy, planning weapons and material and R&D&I policies, as well as helping the internationalization of Spanish companies. The Directorate-General for Armament and Material (DGAM). It is the department responsible for the planning and development of the armament and material policy of the Ministry, as well as the supervision and direction of its execution. The Directorate-General for Economic Affairs (DIGENECO). It is the governing body responsible for the planning and development of the economic and financial policy of the Ministry, as well as the supervision and direction of its execution. The Directorate-General for Infrastructure (DIGENIN). It is the body responsible for the planning and development of the infrastructure, environmental and energy policies of the Ministry, as well as the supervision and direction of its execution. The Centre for Information and Communication Systems and Technologies. To which corresponds the planning and development of the policies of the systems, technologies and information security of the Department, as well as the supervision and direction of its execution. For these purposes, the competent bodies in the aforementioned matters of the Armed Forces and the autonomous agencies of the Department depend functionally on this center.
The following agencies also depends from the SEDEF: The National Institute for Aerospace Technology. It is the defense agency in charge of research and technological development in the fields of aeronautics, space, hydrodynamics, security and defense. It is commonly considered as Spain's Space Agency, but Spain has not have a Space Agency. The Institute for Housing, Infrastructure and Defense Equipment. It is the agency of the Ministry of Defense responsible for administering the assets of the ministry as well as ensuring that all military personnel and their families have a place to live. The Military Constructions Service. It is a department of the Institute for Housing, Infrastructure and Defense Equipment responsible for the construction of military installations and other constructions of national security interest.
List of secretaries of state For the purpose of this list, the date used is the date on which the decree of appointment or dismissal received royal assent, which may differ from the date of publication or of the effective taking of office. Name Term of officeGovernmentStartEndDurationPrime MinisterMonarchEduardo Serra Rexach8 February 198417 July 1987Felipe GonzálezJuan Carlos IRafael de la Cruz Corcoll22 April 198811 October 1991José Miguel Hernández Vázquez11 October 19912 October 1992Antonio Flos Bassols9 October 199228 April 1995Juan Ramón García Secades7 July 199510 May 1996Pedro Morenés24 May 19965 May 2000José María AznarFernando Díez Moreno5 May 200019 April 2004Francisco Pardo19 April 200420 April 2007José Luis Rodríguez ZapateroSoledad López Fernández20 April 200714 April 2008Constantino Méndez14 April 200830 December 2011Pedro Argüelles Salaverría5 January 201218 November 2016Mariano RajoyFelipe VIAgustín Conde18 November 20168 June 2018Ángel Olivares Ramírez8 June 201823 June 2020Pedro SánchezEsperanza Casteleiro30 June 202010 May 2022Amparo Valcarce10 May 2022Incumbent
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