Yesterday, 4 December, the handover ceremony for the Commander of the Air Force Survival Training Centre (CTSFA) took place in Montijo.

Presided over by the Deputy Chief of Staff of the Air Force (VCEMFA), Lieutenant General António Nascimento, Lieutenant Colonel Navigator Pedro Ferreira took office as the new Commander, replacing Colonel Navigator José Oliveira, who had held the position since February 2023.

Even before swearing in the new Commander, as a token of recognition for his command of the CTSFA, the VCEMFA awarded the outgoing commander with the Distinguished Service Medal, silver grade.

Upon taking office, the new Commander addressed words of gratitude to the Air Force leadership and his family, but also to the military and civilians he will command from today onwards, praising the ‘exemplary work carried out, often far from the spotlight, but always with the professionalism that characterises the best. Let us continue.’

In his speech, VCEMFA highlighted the new Commander's ‘human, military and technical’ characteristics, adding that, ‘combined with his experience and sense of responsibility, they will enable him to manage the resources at his disposal correctly and lead effectively’. 

Lieutenant Colonel Pedro Ferreira was born in Santarém in 1973 and joined the Air Force for the Navigator Course in October 1993. Between 1993 and 1999, he was stationed at Squadron 502, on the C-212 aircraft.

In 2002, he joined the permanent staff of the Air Force and was assigned that same year to Squadron 601 – “Lobos”, in the P-3 fleet, where he remained until 2014.

Between 2014 and 2021, he was assigned to Air Command, followed by a stint at the Air Force Military and Technical Training Centre in Ota, where he served as Commander of the Operational Group.