Juan Bengoechea, commander and fighter pilot: “Tomorrow, whatever the mission, whatever it may be, we are ready”

In a world where headlines chase noise, some lives unfold quietly, holding up the balance of who we are. Juan Bengoechea (Madrid, 1991), commander and squadron leader of the Eurofighter Wing 14 based in Albacete, Spain, embodies that life of service, sacrifice, and leadership that rarely makes front pages but defines the heartbeat of a nation’s security and dignity.

He’s spent the day in the air - working, flying - and, with the hum of engines still faintly in his ears, he speaks with Diario AS about his daily life and what it means to lead in the modern Spanish Air Force.

A passion passed down through generations

From childhood, Bengoechea watched his father and uncle fly. What was just a spectacle for others was, for him, a family legacy. “That passion gets passed down,” he says. And so does the emotional weight carried by those who stay on the ground: mothers, grandmothers, siblings. “My grandmother used to call me every day,” he recalls, asking him to reconsider his choice. Because a pilot never truly flies alone, he carries with him the bonds that keep him grounded.

Now, his brother also pilots an F-18. A photo from a recent mission captures a historic moment: a father and his two sons, flying together in formation.

Missions across borders and emotions

Bengoechea has led missions in Alaska, Australia, and Romania. In 2024, he was part of Pacific Skies, a pioneering multinational operation that deployed more than 70 personnel for three weeks.

In Romania, as squadron leader, he experienced the other side of command, human management. “It’s harder when someone asks for a day off than when you send someone into danger,” he admits. Leadership, for him, isn’t just strategy, it’s empathy, conviction, and responsibility.

“Whatever happens, we’re ready”

Interoperability with Germany, the Eurofighter’s integration, and upcoming joint exercises like Pitch Black 2026 in Australia are all part of a broader defense framework connecting Spain with NATO and Europe’s collective security. Yet none of that changes their daily readiness. “Whatever happens, we’re ready,” he says. “Our preparation doesn’t depend on outside noise, it comes from within.”

A graduate in international relations, Commander Bengoechea applies strategic thinking to his daily work. He draws inspiration from his mentors, both the good and the bad, and reflects on a broader national mindset in Spain. “We tend to underestimate ourselves,” he says. “But when we work with other countries, we realize we’re just as good. We have to start believing it.”

Camaraderie and relaxation

A passionate Real Madrid fan, Bengoechea serves as vice president of Peña Mirlo Blanco, a fan club that brings together officers from the Spanish Air and Space Force. “When we can go to a game, we relax, talk about football,” he says. Naturally, last week’s Real Madrid–Barcelona clash was one of those welcome breaks.

For Bengoechea and his peers, soccer offers connection, a space for good-natured teasing and shared humanity. He remembers when Real Madrid invited the family of a fallen pilot (his uncle) to the Bernabéu and how, during severe flooding in Valencia, Air Force volunteers helped clean up debris. “The uniform doesn’t limit the heart,” he says.

The unseen sacrifice of military life

“Military life always puts us in debt to the other parts of ourselves,” Bengoechea reflects - the families, the friends, those who wait. “We’re the ones asking for more, and that imbalance is in our favor.”

He also asks something of society: understanding. “If people really get to know what we do, with an open mind and open heart, they can’t help but respect it.”

In a time of polarization, distant wars, and domestic divides, Commander Juan Bengoechea reminds us that there are those who train every day to keep the world from falling apart. That leadership isn’t just about command, it’s about sacrifice. That soccer can unite what distance separates. And that behind every flight lies a story of love, effort, and service.

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