The Ministry of Defense (MD) promoted, on Monday afternoon (09), the ceremonies to hand over the leadership of the Armed Forces Joint Staff (EMCFA) and the new holder of the General Secretariat of the Ministry. At EMCFA, Fleet Admiral Renato Rodrigues de Aguiar Freire succeeded Army General Laerte de Souza Santos. At the General Staff, General Sérgio José Pereira was replaced by Luiz Henrique Pochyly da Costa.
While presiding over the EMCFA ceremony, the Minister of Defense, José Múcio Monteiro Filho, decorated Admiral Renato Rodrigues de Aguiar Freire with the Order of Merit of Defense, in the degree of Grand Cross. “It is with joy that we can count on his rich professional experience, his dedication and his energy. His career history ensures a quick insertion of the issues related to the General Staff, and his presence in this Ministry demonstrates the Navy’s appreciation and consideration for this portfolio,” highlighted the minister in his welcoming speech to the Admiral. In both ceremonies the work of the former incumbents was recognized.
In the occasion, Fleet Admiral Renato Rodrigues de Aguiar Freire enthusiastically highlighted his new mission at the head of the position. “EMCFA is a strategic and operational branch of the MD. Our focus must be on increasing interoperability, strengthening joint operations, such as Ágata, which brings relevant and visible results to the population. Besides, of course, an efficient and effective management of human and material resources, focused on the interests and needs of our homeland”, he said.
EMCFA – It was created in 2010 to promote and coordinate interoperability among the Single Forces and to advise the Minister of Defense, besides coordinating the joint action of the Navy, Army and Air Force commands. Its mission involves the defense of the country, acting, also, in peace, humanitarian and rescue operations. Under its management are the Defense Intelligence Advisory Board; the Chiefs of Joint Operations; of Strategic Affairs; of Logistics and Mobilization; and of Education and Culture.
Secretariat – The General Secretariat of the Ministry of Defense, which is now receiving its sixth Secretary General, is one of the central governing bodies of Defense. Created in 2013, the SG has, among other competencies, to advise the Minister of Defense in the direction, coordination and supervision of the activities of the Department of the Northern Border Program, the Armed Forces Hospital, and of the specific individual agencies that are subordinated to them: the Management and Operational Center of the Amazon Protection System (Censipam), the Department of Budget and Institutional Organization, the Department of Defense Products, and the Department of Personnel, Education, Health and Sports.
By Carolina Macêdo *** Translated by the DEFCONPress FYI Team ***