Investiture of the New Joint Chief of the Defence Staff

 

The new Joint Chief of the Defence Staff, Admiral Fernando García, alongside the minister (Photo:Ángel Manrique/Army Communication Department)

The leaders of the Armed Forces attended the investiture (Photo:Ángel Manrique/Army Communication Department)

The new Joint Chief of the Defence Staff, Admiral Fernando García Sánchez, today has taken office before the minister of Defence, Mr. Pedro Morenés, at the Ministry headquarters.

The ceremony began with the reading of the Royal Decree of appointment, which was announced on 30th December following the final Cabinet meeting of the year.  Subsequently, the admiral was sworn in and following this, the handover took place with his predecessor, Air Force General José Julio Rodríguez, who had held the post since July 2008.

The ceremony concluded with the retreat of the Honours Company, made up of Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine service personnel. 

The new Joint Chief of the Defence Staff, a native of Granada and 59 years of age, had previously been chief of the Maritime Action Force.