CHAIN OF COMMAND

Major General Helder Fernan Giraldo Bonilla

He was born 54 years ago in the city of Ibagué, Tolima, he studied at the Cisneros School until the ninth grade of high school and at the age of 15, exactly on January 24, 1984, he entered the Military Cadet School General José María Córdova. Four years later, on December 01, 1987 he rose to the rank of second lieutenant. With a service time of 38 years in the institution, he has held different positions, honoring God, the Flag, the Homeland and the National Army.

He is a professional in Military Sciences of the Infantry, with specialization in Human Resources of the Sergio Arboleda University, in university teaching of the Piloto University of Colombia, in Human Rights and International Law of Armed Conflicts of the Military Cadet School General José María Córdova. He is in the same way Security Manager and Socio-Political Analysis Manager of the School of Intelligence and Counterintelligence of the Army; he obtained the Master's degree in National Security and Defense of the Superior School of War, he is an Honoris Causa PhD in International Humanitarian Law and International Human Rights Law Education from Logos International University and he also completed the Senior Business Management Program (PADE) of the INALDE Business School, which aims to transform society through the impact on senior managers of organizations. In the same way, he is an academic peer, recognized by the National Accreditation Council. Married to María Victoria Leal Hinestroza and father of María Andrea, Andrés Fernando and Alejandro.

During his 38 years of service he has served in different positions in which it is worth highlighting his appointment as operations officer, executive and second commander of the Infantry Battalion No. 14 CT. Antonio Ricaurte 1999 and 2000, reaching important operational goals. He served in the Colombia Battalion No. 3 in the Sinai Peninsula. He was in the same way Commander of the Ambrosio Almeida Commandos Battalion in the years 2005-2006.

As Lieutenant Colonel, he was Director of the Training School for Professional Soldiers from where he promoted the strengthening of Human Rights in the Institution, being structurer of the specialty No. 11 Soldier promoter in Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law, later in the rank of Colonel as Director of the Military School of Non-Commissioned Officers Sergeant Inocencio Chincá, 2011 and 2012, he created the following academic programs: Technology in the promotion and implementation of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights in the military context; Technology in Field criminalistics; Technology in Public Management and Technology in Military Logistics.

By 2012-2013 he was Commander of the Specific Command of El Caguán of the Joint Task Force Omega and after his promotion as Brigadier General, he was commander of the Fifth Brigade, a unit in which he stood out for his important successes in matters of law and order and for his contribution to the culture and history of the department of Santander through the creation of the Batalla de Palonegro Museum in the city of Bucaramanga and the House of Memory of San Vicente and Carmen de Chucurí, places that have strengthened the historical regional and institutional memory.

In 2018 and part of 2019 he commanded the Eighth Division of the National Army, where he obtained important results in security matters; during 2019 he was in command of the Joint Command No. 4. Orinoquia. Since then, he has been leading the creation of the Centro de Memoria Histórica del Oriente Museum, in Yopal, Casanare as a significant contribution to the historical memory of our country; this center is about to be inaugurated.

In 2020 he served as Director of the Superior School of War General Rafael Reyes Prieto, the highest Military Higher Education Institution, where he promoted before the Ministry of Education the creation of the doctorate in Strategic Studies, Security and Defense. During 2021 he served as Chief of Staff of Army Operations and led the creation of the Hall of Flags Glories of the Army, at the Military Cadet School, consolidating the culture of strengthening historical memory.

He served as Inspector General of the National Army, where his objectives were: to ensure compliance with institutional policies and the strict implementation of current legal regulations; strengthen the culture of control, contribute to the implementation of the Doctrine, seeking continuous improvement, as well as the promotion of the culture of leadership, transparency and trust, in order to contribute to the desired final state of an increasingly professional, efficient Army that adapts to challenges of the future.

He is the author of the books: Non-Commissioned Officers in History, Rain of Steel War of a Thousand Days. In addition, he is co-author of the book: Identity and national interests of Colombia and the book Places of memory: a museum proposal to dignify, recognize, and remember the victims of the armed conflict Editorial Planeta (2022) is currently in the postproduction process.

For his impeccable experience he has been recognized with the following awards:

* CRUZ DE BOYACÁ MILITARY MEDAL - GRAND OFFICER 2018

* ANTONIO NARIÑO MILITARY MEDAL - GRAND OFFICER 2002

* MILITARY MEDAL JOSÉ MARÍA CÓRDOVA KNIGHT DEGREE CAT. UNIQUE 2011

* ORDER OF SANITARY MERIT JOSÉ FERNÁNDEZ MADRID OFFICIAL 1999

* MILITARY MEDAL DISTINGUISHED SERVICES IN LAW AND ORDER 8 TIME 2020

* ORDER OF MERIT CUSTODIO GARCÍA ROVIRA GRAN CRUZ 2002

* MILITARY MEDAL BATTLE OF AYACUCHO, UNIQUE 1994

* MEDAL BATTALION MIGUEL ANTONIO CARO CAT UNIQUE 199

* MEDAL SERVICIOS UNIDOS POR LA PAZ CAT. UNIQUE 2000

* MILITARY MEDAL OF ARMS AND SERVICES JOSÉ CELESTINO CAT. UNIQUE 2003

* MILITARY MEDAL MILITARY POLICE MERIT 2003

* FE EN LA CAUSA CAT. UNIQUE 2011

* GENERAL JOSÉ HILARIO LÓPEZ MILITARY MEDAL 2013

* DISTINGUISHED SERVICE MEDAL IN MILITARY OPERATIONS 2013

* MILITARY MEDAL SOUTHERN CAMPAIGN ONLY TIME 2013

* MEDAL TIME OF SERVICE 15, 20, 25 AND 30 YEARS 2018

Vice Admiral José Joaquín Amézquita García

Vice Admiral Amézquita García, serves as General Maritime Director. He entered the Naval Cadet School Almirante Padilla in 1984, graduating as Lieutenant Commander on December 1, 1987, specializing in Surface Executive. He rose to the rank of Vice Admiral in December 2019.

He is a Professional in Naval Engineering with a specialty in electronics and a Master's degree in National Security and Political and International Studies; specialist in Security and Defense and Human Resources Management. In addition, he has studies in the Management Program of the Javeriana University and he is a certified professional in Project Management.

During his professional career he has been on board the Missile Frigates ARC Antioquia, ARC Almirante Padilla and ARC Caldas as Head of the Weapons and Electronics Department of the Naval Base ARC Bolívar, he was in the same way in charge of technical projects for the National Army, Afloat Units and Navy Infantry Units.

He was Director of Telematics of the Colombian Navy. At the end of 2008, he was called to enter the Orion Plan, the highest quality and most complex program carried out by the ARC to date. He was in the same way Naval Attaché in Washington conducted by 2013 and 2014.

He led the Strategic Programs Directorate, the Naval Planning Office and the Branch Support Office of the General Staff; his last position was as Director of the General Maritime Directorate during the post-covid economic opening period from 2021 to 2022.

In his experience he has been recognized with awards such as the Cruz de Boyacá, Distinguished Services Medal to the National Navy, Military Medal Francisco José de Caldas, Order of Military Merit José María Córdova, Order of Naval Merit Almirante Padilla, Distinguished Services Medal to the General Maritime Directorate, Order of Military Merit of Communications Arcangel San Gabriel and Medal Fe en la Causa.

Major General Luis Mauricio Ospina Gutiérrez

The senior officer has military experience of more than 35 years in the institution and he was recently serving as the Director of the Superior School of War.

The President of the Republic Gustavo Francisco Petro Urrego, accompanied by Minister of Defense Iván Velásquez Gómez, appointed Major General Luis Mauricio Ospina Gutiérrez, as commander of the National Army.

Major General Ospina Gutiérrez was born in the city of Bogotá, he entered the General José María Córdova Military Cadet School, where he began his military training and obtained the rank of second lieutenant, in 1987.

During his more than 35 years of military career he has trained in different fields, taking the military course of Paratrooper, Air Borne and Rural Counterguerrilla. He has served as Commander of the Mobile Brigade No. 3, director of the Military Education Center and Military Deputy at the US Embassy.

The national Government and different institutions have recognized its operation on several occasions. He stands out within his experience with high civil and military decorations.

The new commander of the National Army is a Professional in Military Sciences of the General José María Córdova Cadet Military School. He has obtained diplomas in Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law of the Universidad Nueva Granada, he is specialist in Senior Management of the Universidad Javeriana and Master's degree in National Security and Defense of the Superior School of War.

In 2015 he rose to the rank of brigadier general, being commander of the Second Brigade, in the departments of Atlántico, Magdalena and the south of Bolívar.

During the year 2018 he served as Commander of the Thirteenth Brigade, in the department of Cundinamarca and the capital city of the country.

In 2019 he was commander of the Fifth Division, which has responsibility over the center of the country in the departments of Cundinamarca, Tolima, Huila, Quindío, Risaralda and Caldas, where he stayed for two years.

He was currently directing the Superior School of War, the highest instance of Military Higher Education.

VICE ADMIRAL FRANCISCO HERNANDO CUBIDES GRANADOS

After 32 years a submariner he is appointed as Commander of the Colombian Navy

President of the Republic Gustavo Francisco Petro Urrego, appointed Vice Admiral Francisco Hernando Cubides Granados, as the new Commander of the Colombian Navy, who was serving as Commander of the Pacific Naval Force.

Vice Admiral Cubides, was born on June 08, 1966 in Bogotá, D.C. − Cundinamarca. He entered the Naval Cadet School Almirante Padilla in 1985, graduating as Lieutenant Commander on July 01, 1989, specializing in Executive Engineer. He rose to the rank of Vice Admiral by Decree No.390, of April 13, 2021. He is currently married and has two children.

Vice Admiral Francisco Hernando Cubides, has extensive experience in the Colombian Navy and among the positions he has been Head of the Office of Naval Training, Institution and Education; Director of the Naval Cadet School Almirante Padilla; Commander of the Naval Fleet; Chief of Staff of the Caribbean Naval Force; Head of the Inspection Group of the Submarine Project 206 A in Germany; Commander of the Caribbean Submarine Flotilla; Supervisor of Special Projects of the Naval Planning Office; Commander, Second Commander, Head of the Engineering Department and Head of the Operations Department of the Submarine ARC Tayrona; Commander of the dike ship ARC Major Jaime Arias; Dean of the Vice President of the Republic; Commander of the Submarine ARC Intrepid and Head of the Palo Bauprés Division of the ARC Gloria.

Vice Admiral Cubides is a professional in Naval Engineering and Naval Sciences of the Naval Cadet School Almirante Padilla; with a Master's Degree in National Security and Defense of the Superior School of War, as well as in International Relations and Conflict Resolution of the United States Military University. He is Specialist in Human Resources Management and Senior Manager of the Universidad Militar Nueva Granada and has a diploma in Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law of the Autonomous University of Bucaramanga. In 1992 he obtained the specialty of Scuba Diver.

In addition, the senior officer has several military courses, in which the International Course in Submarine Tactics of the US Navy and Security and Cooperation Course of the Center for Security Studies of Asia Pacific, among others.

In his military experience, the new Commander has received medals and countless military honors. At the national level: Decoration Order of Boyacá in Grand Officer category; the Order of Military Merit Antonio Nariño in Commander category; the Order of Naval Merit Almirante Padilla Commander grade; the Order of Merit Coronel Guillermo Fergusson Official grade; Military Medal Fe en la Causa of the General Command of the Military Forces; Medal Presidential Guard; Military Medal to the Merit of the Reserve; Distinguished Services to the National Navy; Military Medal Fe en la Causa of the National Navy; Distinguished service to the Marine Infantry, to the Submarine Force, to the Naval Aviation and to the Naval Engineering and Military Medal Francisco José de Caldas in the categories of Consecration, Medal Fe en la Causa of the General Command, the Order of Sanitary Merit José Fernández Madrid, the Distinguished services to the Maritime Directorate, Distinguished services to the Coast Guard Corps, Distinguished services to the Infantry Training School of the Navy, and Distinguished services to the Naval Cadet School Almirante Padilla. At the international level: Brazilian Navy Medal; Peruvian Cross Medal for Naval Merit and Chilean Naval School Medal.