In recognition of the 39 years of determined and invaluable operation of Admiral Gabriel Alfonso Pérez Garcés, Commander of the Colombian Navy, the outgoing Government appointed him as Naval Attaché to the Embassy of Colombia to the Government of the Kingdom of Belgium, a position he will assume as a high rank officer on active duty as of Thursday, August 11.
Vice Admiral Ricardo Hurtado Chacón, Second Commander of the Navy and Chief of Naval Staff, was in charge of the functions of the Colombian Navy Command, until the appointment of the new commanders by the National Government.
Under the leadership of Admiral Gabriel Pérez, Colombia consolidated itself as a biodiverse country of the seas, safeguarding human life at sea, in addition to contributing to the protection of natural resources and science, technology and innovation with the commissioning of new units designed and built by the Colombian Navy.
During the last two years, important results have been obtained in the fight against drug trafficking and illicit activities, the protection of natural resources and safeguarding human life at sea, by the finding 515 tons of cocaine, 104 tons of marijuana and 47 semi-submarines, the arrest of 1,420 members of Organized Armed Groups and Criminal Groups, as well as the rescue of 791 people who suffered emergencies in the seas and rivers.
In this period, the VI, VII, VIII and IX versions of the Orion Naval Campaign were carried out, with the participation of 106 institutions from 41 countries in its last version.
It in the same way, it is important to highlight the leadership and direction of the reconstruction of San Andrés, Providencia and Santa Catalina, through the Renacer Plan and the contribution in the San Roque Operation of National Vaccination in the framework of the health emergency caused by Covid-19. As well as the strengthening of international relations and interoperability with the Navies of the region through Colombia's participation in international cooperation and peace operations, including Solidarex II, Unitas LXII, Velas Latinoamérica 2022 and Rimpac.
Source: Press - Navy of Colombia
