Commander

Lieutenant General Aroldo Lázaro Sáenz was born in 1962 in Sidi Ifni, a former Spanish territory in North Africa. He joined the Spanish Army’s Military Academy in 1981 and was commissioned as a First Lieutenant in 1986, beginning his career as a platoon leader in the Spanish Legion.

Throughout his service in the land forces, he has held a broad range of command position in various units, from infantry platoon leader to brigade commander.

Promoted to Captain in 1990, he commanded a company in the Balearic Islands and later in the Spanish Legion. As a Major, he held several national and international positions, including in the Spanish Doctrine Command, NATO Rapid Deployable Corps Spain (NRDC-SP), and EUROFOR HQ in Florence, Italy. In 2008, as a Lieutenant Colonel, he returned to NRDC-SP to lead the Organization and Coordination Cell within the Directorate of Staff (DOS). In 2009, he was assigned to the 10th Spanish Mechanized Brigade as Chief of Staff. 

Following his promotion to Colonel in 2013, he assumed command of the Mechanized Infantry Regiment “La Reina 2” for two years. From May 2017 to February 2020, as Brigadier General, he commanded the 10th Spanish Mechanized Brigade. 

Upon his promotion to Major General in 2020, he took the lead of the Army Directorate of Personnel Support and Social Welfare. He was later appointed Adviser for Defense and Security Affairs in the Ministry of Defense.

From February 28, 2022, to June 24, 2025, he served as Head of Mission and Force Commander of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

Lieutenant General Aroldo Lázaro Sáenz has completed several national and NATO courses, including Main Battle Tank, Military Parachuting, Civil-Military Cooperation, General Staff, General Officer Course, NATO Staff Officer Orientation, and NATO Exercise Planning. 

He is proficient in English and has knowledge of French, and Italian.

His numerous military decorations include the Spanish Grand Cross for Military Merit (Blue), the Saint Hermenegild Grand Cross, the Order of Isabel la Católica, six Crosses for Military Merit, the Civil Merit Encomienda, the Bronze Medal of the National Defense of the French Republic, and various honors related to his service with EUROFOR, the European Union’s Common Security and Defence Policy (formerly ESDP), NATO, and the UN (UNPROFOR, UNIFIL).

He has deployed on several International Peacekeeping Operations, including in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) with UNPROFOR in 1993, SFOR in 1996, and EUFOR Operation ALTHEA in 2006. In UNIFIL, he served as Sector East Chief of Staff (COS) in 2012, Sector East Liaison Officer (LNO) at HQ Naqoura in 2013, Sector East Commander in 2016/17, and as Force Commander and Head of Mission from February 2022 to June 2025.

On June 7, 2025, he was appointed Commanding General of Eurocorps in Strasbourg. His assignment began on September 18.

He is married and has two children.