Teniente General Juan ORTUÑO SUCH was born on February 27, 1940 in Polop, in the Alicante area.

He entered the Military Academy in September 1957. He left the Academy in 1961 as an Engineer Lieutenant and was appointed to the Training Regiment of the Engineers School as a drill officer for non-commissioned officers, among other functions.
In 1966 he passed his qualifications as a paratrooper and special operations commander. After being promoted to the rank of captain, he was appointed to the 3rd Engineer Regiment as the commander of a mechanised company.
In 1970 after going through the Army Staff College he was assigned to the Joint Staff where he exercised different reponsibilities in the intelligence and counter-espionage field.
He was promoted to the rank of major in 1978 and was appointed to the Under-Secretary's office of the Ministry of Defence where he took an active part in the creation of the "High Center of Information of the Defence".
In 1982 he joined the Army Staff in the branch "Coordination and Plans" where he took part in the Army restructuring process.
Between June 1985 and July 1986 he attended the command and staff training of the American Army. The same year, after being promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel, he was appointed again to the plans branch as a section leader.
In 1987 he was assigned as a batallion commander to the 22nd Strategic Signals Regiment.
In July 1989 he was appointed military attaché in the Spanish Embassy in London and Dublin where he stayed until July 1992. In the meantime, in March 1990, he was promoted to the rank of Colonel.
When he came back to Spain in 1992, he was appointed to the Joint Staff as section chief of the Mediterranean area of the intelligence branch. There he worked as chairman of the NATO working group dealing with the risks in this area.
In March 1994 he was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General and appointed Chief of the branch "Plans and Organisation" of the Army Staff.
He took part in the implementation of the "North Plan" on the restructuring of the Spanish Army. He also took part in the FINABEL organisation as major military expert.
On November 9, 1996 he was promoted to the rank of Major General and took the command of European Rapid Force (EUROFOR).
During these two years of command of the EUROFOR - in which Spain, France, Italy and Portugal take part - this multinational force proved its ability to carry out peace operations, especially during the exercise "EOLO 98", which was carried out in France and during which the EUROFOR Headquarters exercised the Land Component Command role.
When he came back to Spain in December 1998 he was appointed adviser of the Army Chief of Staff and Chief of the Army CIS programme.
Promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-general(Teniente General) in November 1999, he was appointed that same month as the fourth Eurocorps Commander.
Among other medals, he was awarded the Grand Cross of Military Merit, the Grand Cross of the Royal and Military Order of St-Hermenegilde, as well as different crosses of Navy and Air Force military merit.
General Ortuño married Lola on September 18, 1965. They have four children: Maria Teresa, Miguel Angel, Natalia and Cristina.