Lieutenant Colonel Carlos Manuel Vicente Neves joined the Air Force in January 1983 to attend the Aviation Maintenance Technical Course, having served as commander of the 1st Air Maintenance Squadron at Air Base no.2 in Ota. Subsequently, he was assigned to Air Base no. 4 in Lajes, where he served as Commander of the 711 Maintenance Squadron.
After being promoted to Senior Officer, he served as Chief of Staff of the Azores Operational Command in Ponta Delgada from 2002 to 2004.
From 2004 to 2011, Lieutenant Colonel Carlos Neves was assigned to Transit Airfield no. 1, where he served as Commander of the Support Squadron and as 2nd Commander. During this period, he was responsible for the preparation, organisation and implementation of several plans and actions developed for the reception and security of high-ranking figures within the scope of Air Force responsibilities.
In 2011, he was assigned, once again, to Air Base no.4, having served as Commander of the Support Group.
The President of the Azores Regional Civil Protection and Fire Service was bestowed with 12 commendations and nine decorations nationally and internationally. In 2016, he was awarded the Degree of Commander of the Military Order of Avis by the President of the Portuguese Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.