The Porto Pi Naval Station hosted the official change-of-command ceremony for the Balearic Islands Naval Sector on Wednesday, 22 July. Captain Gabriel Rodríguez Ruiz took office as the new Head of the Balearic Islands Naval Sector and Naval Commander of Palma, succeeding Captain Javier Núñez de Prado, who brings to an end a four-year tenure leading the Spanish Navy’s representation in the archipelago.
The ceremony, held in the Plaza de Anclas, brought together representatives of the Army, Navy and Air and Space Force, as well as the Guardia Civil and National Police, alongside numerous civil and institutional authorities. Those attending included the Regional Minister for the Sea, Juan Manuel Lafuente; the Mayor of Palma, Jaime Martínez; and the President of the Parliament of the Balearic Islands, Gabriel Le Senne.
During his tenure, Javier Núñez de Prado maintained close ties with the Balearic maritime and nautical sector as a whole, taking an active part in institutional meetings, technical conferences, congresses and events organised by organisations linked to the sea. His involvement in matters relating to maritime safety, recreational boating and cooperation between the Spanish Navy and civil institutions made the outgoing commander a highly respected and approachable figure within the sector.
He is succeeded by Captain Gabriel Rodríguez Ruiz, an officer of the Spanish Navy’s General Corps whose professional career has been closely linked to the Submarine Force. He entered the Spanish Naval Academy in 1991 and has since served aboard submarines, frigates, patrol vessels, landing ships and the aircraft carrier Príncipe de Asturias. He also served with a NATO Standing Naval Group aboard the US destroyer USS Vicksburg.
