· The delegate of the Government of Spain in the Community of Madrid, Francisco Martín, has defended “the value, the dedication, the sacrifice and, above all, humanity” of all and all those recognized
The Delegation of the Government of Spain in the Community of Madrid has today awarded 48 people and institutions the Merit of Civil Protection awards for starring in outstanding and valuable acts for the prevention and control of emergency situations.
For the delegate of the Government of Spain in the Community of Madrid, these distinctions are a way of highlighting “the value, dedication, sacrifice and, above all, humanity of women and men who dedicate their time and effort to the protection of our society.”
They are also a way of recognizing the importance of the National Civil Protection System as a whole, “one of the silent but fundamental pillars of public security in Spain”, he added, “an essential part in the prevention, response and recovery in the face of emergencies and disasters”.
Francisco Martín has recalled the two most recent and prominent emergency episodes that the region has experienced: the DANA of 2023, which hit Aldea del Fresno, Villamanta, El Álamo, Navalcarnero, Villanueva de Perales or Villamantilla with special severity; and the fires of great virulence suffered during the last summer in municipalities such as Tres Cantos, Villamanta or Navalcarnero.
In his speech, he defended the role of professionals and volunteers in the face of the “most urgent and inescapable challenge we face as a society: the climate emergency”, and the need to strengthen and adapt civil protection “as a public policy and as a human system” to respond to these new risks, but always “hand in hand with science and evidence”.
A work that for the Government of Spain “is a priority” as demonstrated by the first two National Civil Protection Strategies adopted in Spain, the National Disaster Risk Reduction Plan ‘Horizon 2035’, the creation of the ES-Alert system or the development of the National Civil Protection Risk Map and the Register of Disasters and Emergencies.
The event was held in the auditorium of the Center for Scientific Research (CSIC), and the following speakers took part: the president of the CSIC, Eloisa del Pino; the general director of Civil Protection, Virginia Barcones, and on behalf of all those decorated, the commander of the Military Emergency Unit (UME), Miguel Ballesteros.
Among the attendees, deputies of the Congress and autonomics, senators, mayors and mayors of different municipalities of Madrid, the superior head of the National Police in Madrid, Javier Galván, or the head of the 1st Zone of the Civil Guard, General Fernando Mora.
DECORATED
The Medal of Merit of Civil Protection is created to distinguish natural or legal persons who stand out for their activities in the protection, at a preventive and operational level, of persons and goods that may be affected by emergency situations in cases of serious risk, catastrophe or public calamity, through the performance of singular acts that imply notorious risk or exceptional solidarity, singular collaboration with the competent authorities in the direction and coordination of the resources of intervention in such circumstances or altruistic cooperation with them in actions of technical, pedagogical, research, economic or social purpose, as well as in continuous and relevant actions of interest to Civil Protection.
The Medal of Merit of Civil Protection has three categories: gold, silver and bronze, and three badges: red, blue and white. The first will distinguish acts of heroism, solidarity or posthumous nature; blue for emergency situations with danger for the participants, and white to highlight professional trajectories or years of service.
The distinguished ones have been:
Rafael Pérez González. Firefighter of the Community of Madrid. He died in a traffic accident on the M-404 road, on December 7, 2024, while coming with his endowment to an intervention.
María de la Paz García Vera. Ex-delegate of the Government of Spain in Madrid. For his work at the head of the Delegation.
Alejandro Arias Lera. Former Head of the Technical Cabinet of the Government Delegation. Cristina Asacia Navarro Enterría. Former Secretary General of the Government Delegation. Vicente Franco Fonticoba. Former head of the Civil Protection Unit of the Government Delegation. Casandra López Marcos. Former Director of Communication of the Government Delegation. For his work in the Government Delegation during the DANA suffered in 2023.
Guillermo Julián Marcos Peláez, captain of the UME. Fernando de Cea Oroz, captain of the UME. Pelayo García Fernández, lieutenant of the UME. Guillermo Caro Pinedo, Cape of the UME. For its active participation in the municipality of Aldea del Fresno after the DANA suffered in 2023.
Andrés Rodrigo López, Corporal of the UME. For his constant participation in emergencies in Madrid.
Juan José Plana Rodríguez. Civil Guard. For its participation in operations to locate missing persons in emergencies, such as the DANA of 2023 and in evictions of people in forest fires
Miguel Hidalgo Hernández, Corporal 1º of the Civil Guard. For his participation in rescue and assistance during Filomena in 2021 and in other emergencies (blackout, floods 2025).
Víctor Sainz Ruiz de León. SAMUR-Civil Protection Emergency Technician. Due to its outstanding trajectory and capabilities, it has been essential in the SAMUR-Civil Protection EMT1 classification by the WHO and in international missions such as Egypt-Gaza in 2024. His work as a mentor and teacher of the WHO, together with his constant training in emergencies, reinforce his commitment to excellence in this field.
Fire Brigade of the City of Madrid (START Team) and Samur-Civil Protection of the City of Madrid. For his intervention in the earthquakes in Turkey and Morocco. Specifically, the earthquake in Turkey (February 6, 2023) was attended by members of the Fire Brigade in logistics functions of the START team led by the Government of Spain, and in the earthquake in Morocco (September 8, 2023) intervened a cynological search and rescue team composed of two units, one with members of the Fire Brigade and another of Samur-Civil Protection.
Pedro José López Blanco. Assistant Lieutenant UME. For its key contribution in logistics capacities in emergencies in Madrid.
Alberto Tejero Tejero. Cape of the UME. Direct, effective and immediate participation in emergencies.
David Antonio Horses Villar. SAMUR-Civil Protection Emergency Physician. For his leadership and dedication in the field of international emergencies, he has been key in the EMT1 classification of SAMUR-Civil Protection by the WHO. His experience includes leading the mission in Madagascar in 2022 as a team leader of the EUCPT, participating in all the MODEX of the European mechanism since 2015, and acting as a coach in other exercises. In addition, his role as WHO mentor for the EMTs of Jordan, Serbia and Romania highlights his commitment to excellence and training in this field.
Heriberto Beracochea López. Cape of the UME. For his interventions in hostile environments with operational commitment.
Carlos Salmerón Pascual. Head of the Civil Protection Service of Moralzarzal. For his tireless dedication, his leadership in emergency management and his teaching vocation. He has dedicated more than three decades to Civil Protection, both in the civil field and in volunteering, playing a key role in emergency management, training new professionals and in the direction of intervention operations in situations of serious risk. His unwavering vocation for service and his tireless work have had a significant impact on the security and well-being of citizens. In addition to his extensive operational and teaching experience, his academic training strengthens his multidisciplinary profile, he is a Technical Engineer in Management Informatics, Director of Security, Judicial Expert in Civil Protection and Emergencies, and holder of the Superior University Course of Management and Coordination in Civil Protection by the University of Salamanca, in addition to possessing the Intermediate Degree in Health Emergencies.
Beatriz Valea Seco. Civil Guard. For her participation as operator of the COS Civil Guard room during the Covid in 2020, the Filomena borrasca in 2021 and the DANA of 2023.
María Martínez García. Civil Guard. For her participation as an operator of the COS Civil Guard room during the DANA of 2023.
Francisco Javier González Sánchez. Cape of the EMU. For its technical efficiency in deployments and operational cohesion.
Luis Segura Caravaca. Voluntary Civil Protection Group of Móstoles. Volunteer since 1992 and with active participation in all the activities of the municipality.
Francisco Delgado Rabilero. National Police. For its extensive history of collaboration with SUMMA 112, firefighters and Civil Protection in events and emergencies.
Fernando Madrid Cabeza. Grouping of Civil Protection de la Villamanta. For his work in the Group
Cristian Garrido Dorado. Cape of the UME. For its high professionalism and operational values in interventions.
Borja Fernández Ramos. Deputy Inspector of the National Police. For her outstanding participation in investigations of missing persons and gender violence with the collaboration of civil protection media.
Ángel Luis Viejo González. Member of the retired National Emergency Radio Network (REMER). For his voluntary work at the REMER.
Carlos Balsalobre Martínez. Deputy Lieutenant of the UME. For his duties as responsible for logistical maintenance, ensuring operability in emergencies.
José Félix Gómez García. National Police Inspector. For its continuous collaboration with Civil Protection in critical devices, simulations and coordination in mass events.
Covadonga Serrano Maestro. Civil Protection Volunteer. For her dedication as a Civil Protection volunteer.
Canine team Madrid City Council. For their invaluable commitment and dedication as civil protection volunteers, they participated in the deployment after the earthquake in Morocco in September 2023, mobilizing in just 8 hours. With outstanding work in the search for people, health care and the lifting of temporary accommodation, they worked closely with the population and local authorities. Four of its five members, founders of the canine team of SAMUR Civil Protection, have dedicated more than 15 years to the continuous training of their dogs, combining this voluntary work with their personal and professional lives. Together, they accumulate more than 25,000 hours of volunteer activity, an exceptional example of altruism and dedication.
Soraya García Rodríguez. Official of the Government Delegation. For his work as head of the Communications Center (CECO).
Adolfo Iglesias Cebrián. National Police. For his outstanding intervention in locating and rescuing missing persons at vital risk.
Miguel Ballesteros Peral. Commander BIEM I UME. For its effective coordination EMU with other administrations in emergencies such as Filomena or COVID-19.
Esteban Marzoa Rivas. Captain of the Civil Guard. For his active participation in the DANA that took place in Madrid in 2023, where, while enjoying his day off, he volunteered from the first moment and, that same night, had to rescue several people trapped in homes in the area of Villamanta, Aldea del Fresno and El Álamo.
Carlos Sánchez Morata. Lieutenant of the Civil Guard. For his participation in the eviction of illegal infraviviendas in the towns of Arroyomolinos, Aldea del Fresno and Villa del Prado in the floods of 2025.
Alberto Hernández Tejedor. SAMUR-Civil Protection Emergency Physician. For his excellent trajectory and leadership in international medical emergencies, he has been key in the EMT1 classification of SAMUR-Civil Protection by the WHO and in missions such as Egypt-Gaza in 2024 and Morocco in 2023. As head of the Civil Protection department and mentor of the WHO, he has boosted the international presence of SAMUR-PC. Its extensive training and more than 40 scientific publications consolidate its commitment to excellence in the medical and health management field.
Juan Antonio Rojas Jiménez. Local Police of Aldea del Fresno. For its active participation in the municipality after the DANA suffered in 2023.
Javier Iglesias Gayol. National Police Officer. For its numerous high-risk interventions in collaboration with emergencies and civil protection.
Jaime Álvarez Fernández. Chief National Police Inspector. Management of emergency devices (COVID, Power Off 2025, Afghan refugees), coordination with Civil Protection and emergency corps.
David Lombraña Baños. Civil Guard. For his active participation in the DANA that took place in Madrid in 2023, where he had to rescue several people trapped in homes, especially in the town of El Álamo.
Juan Ignacio Martín Abad. Bombero driver specialist. For his courageous off-duty performance during the El Molar forest fire, where he helped coordinate extinguishment work, evacuated people and ensured safety in extreme conditions, suffering first-degree burns while protecting the community.
Juan Jesús Cebrián Muñoz. Corporal 1º Civil Guard. For his participation in the rescue of people and animals in areas of difficult access, highlighting his action in the DANA of Valencia.
Nuria Del Mar Risk. Technique of the City of Villamanta. For his work during the DANA of 2023.
María Lourdes Yuste Pérez. National Police. For his professional career.