LtColRafael Ichaso joined the Spanish Air ForceAcademy, San Javier, in 1993. He completed the Basic Pilot Training in 1997, and the Fighter Weapons course at the 23rd Wing in 1998. He flew the EF-18 in the 15th Fighter Wing, Zaragoza AFB in the 151 SQN from 1998 to 2007. In 2007 was assigned as an Instructor Pilot in the Fighter Weapons School, 23rd Wing, in Badajoz. In 2009 returned to the 15th Wing, serving in the 152 SQN and the 153 Conversion SQN as EF-18 Instructor. In 2008 he was promoted to Major and in 2009 was assigned to the Air Force Academy in the Academic Branch being flying instructor as well as teacher attached to the Defense University. From 2013 to 2016 he served in NATO HQ AIRCOM, Ramstein, Evaluations Division (TACEVAL) as Flying Forces Project Officer and evaluator. Following the Armed Forces Joint Staff course in Madrid, in 2017was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and he was assigned as a Staff Officer in the Spanish Air Combat Command A7 Section (Training, Exercises and Evaluations) in Torrejon AFB, prior to his assignment to the Joint Air Power Competence Centre. During this time he participated in several deployments in Aviano AFB flying over the Balkans. He has the Joint Staff Course and a Master Degree in Security and Defence Policy among others. He has flown more than 2700 hours in C-101, F-5 and EF-18.