Major General João “Speedy” Gonçalves

Major-General Pilot Aviator João Carlos de Bastos Jorge Gonçalves was born in Lisbon on 6 October 1968.

He joined the Air Force in August 1987. He holds a degree in Military and Aeronautical Sciences, in the specialization of Pilot, from the Air Force Academy, having been brevetted, in August 1992, at Air Base No. 1, Sintra.

Between September 1992 and April 1993, he attended the complementary piloting course for combat aircraft in T-38 Talon aircraft at Air Base No. 11, Beja, in Squadron 103.

In April of that same year, he was posted to Air Base No. 11, in Beja, in Squadron 101, where he obtained the qualification of instructor pilot in TB-30 Epsilon aircraft, a function he performed until September 1997, having flown more than 1000 hours in this aircraft. During this period, he attended the Basic Command Course at the Air Force Institute of Advanced Studies in Sintra.

In November 1997, after completing another complementary piloting course for combat aircraft, this time in Alpha-Jet aircraft, in Squadron 103, he was transferred to Air Base No. 5, in Monte Real, being placed in Squadron 201, where he performed several functions on the ground, among which were flight safety officer of the base, head of the base accident prevention office and commander of Squadron 201 - Falcons, having flown more than 1500 hours in the F-16. He acquired all qualifications on the F-16A.

In this period of his operational life, he attended several courses as an operational pilot, such as the NATO course Tactical Leadership Programme, at Florennes Air Base (Belgium), the courses International Flight Safety Officer and Jet Engine Investigation Course, in the United States of America, and the course Aircraft Mishap Investigation - F-16, in Belgium.

He has participated in several national and international exercises, including the Red Flag exercise at Nelis Air Force Base in the United States.

In 2001/2002, he attended the General Air Warfare Course at the Institute of Advanced Studies of the Air Force, in Sintra.

Between 2007 and 2009, he was posted to the operations division of the Air Force General Staff. He served as deputy for weapons systems. He was a member of the F-16 MLU working group, where he represented the Air Force in various international forums on the F-16 modernization program. He was also responsible for foreign air force deployments in Portugal.

In 2009, he was appointed advisor for the Air Force at the Military House of the Presidency of the Republic.

Between August 2013 and July 2016, he was posted to the European Union Military Staff in Brussels. From August 2016 until October 2018, he served as Head of the Air Operations Centre at the Air Command. Between October 2018 and October 2020, he commanded Air Base No. 5, Monte Real.

He attended the General Officer Promotion Course between October 2020 and July 2021. In October 2021, he was appointed Chief of Staff of the Air Command, a position he held until January 2022.

Between February and October 2022 took office as Commander of the Azores Air Zone. He was nominated as Director of Air Operations, Air Command, in accumulation of functions, between 26 July 2022 until August 2023.

In September 2023 he was posted to Mozambique to take command of the European Union Training Mission - Mozambique, a post he held until September 2024.

On 6 January 2025 he was appointed General Air Force Staff Coordinator and, in accumulation of functions, Chief of Staff of the National Aeronautical Authority, positions he currently holds.

He has a total of 3000 flight hours and his service record includes several decorations and commendations. He is married and has two children.