Strategic Operations Command of the Bolivarian National Armed Forces (Venezuela)
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The Strategic Operations Command of the Bolivarian National Armed Forces (Spanish:Comando Estratégico Operacional de la Fuerza Armada Nacional Bolivariana, CEOFANB) is one of the six branches of the National Bolivarian Armed Forces of Venezuela. It has the responsibility of guiding operations of the Venezuelan Armed Forces.
Admiral Remigio Ceballos is the current Commandant of the OSC, with Major General Jose Ornellas Ferreira as the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (as of 2017), and the roles of the OSC have been updated with a recent amendment of the Organic Law of the National Armed Forces in 2014.
History
The Strategic Operations Command of Venezuela was founded by the late President Hugo Chávez on 26 September 2005, replacing the Unified Command of the National Armed Forces (CUFAN). Its mandate is to be the operational command for any operations that can be conducted by the National Armed Forces.
The OSC is led by a Commandant, assisted by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who is also the deputy commandant. As it reports directly to the President and the Ministry of Defense, in recent years the Commandant has also been the Minister of Defense as well. He or she is appointed or relieved by the President.
Mission
The mission of the Strategic Operations Command of Venezuela is to assist the Venezuelan National Armed Forces in geographical and aerospace operations.
Part of its responsibility is providing a unified national air defense capability, as well as for holding joint exercises to enhance combat readiness.
Commanders
The commandants of the OSC have been:
| No. | Portrait | Commander | Took office | Left office | Time in office | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Pérez, CarlosMajor General Carlos Enrique Acosta Pérez | 20 July 2006 | 6months | |||
| ? | González, JesúsMajor General Jesús Alfonzo González González | September 2008 | March 2009 | 6months | ||
| ? | Figueroa, CarlosGeneral-in-Chief Carlos José Mata Figueroa* | March 2009 | July 2010 | 1year, 4months | – | |
| ? | Silva, HenryGeneral-in-Chief Henry Rangel Silva* (born 1961) | July 2010 | July 2012 | 2years | ||
| ? | Fernández, WilmerMajor General Wilmer Omar Barrientos Fernández[es] (born 1959) | July 2012 | July 2013 | 1year | – | |
| ? | López, VladimirGeneral-in-Chief Vladimir Padrino López* (born 1963) | July 2013 | June 2017 | 3years, 11months | – | |
| ? | López, VladimirAdmiral-in-Chief Remigio Ceballos* (born 1963) | June 2017 | 8 July 2021 | 4years, 1month | – | |
| ? | Lárez, DomingoGeneral-in-Chief Domingo Lárez (born 1965) | 8 July 2021 | Incumbent | 5years |
(*): They were subsequently appointed defense ministers, and they were also promoted to the rank while holding the office of the OSC Commandant.