Colonel María Soledad Acevedo San Martín was promoted to brigadier general this Friday. She is the first woman to reach the rank of general in the Chilean Army's 216-year history. The announcement came alongside the appointment of the 2027 High Command.
According to La Tercera, the promotion took place during the annual process in which the institution determines which officers will join the Corps of Generals for the following year. President José Antonio Kast approved the new appointments.
Acevedo has 32 years of service. From 2027, she will serve as Army Director of Finance. Until now, she headed the Executive Office for the Administration of Army Health Funds (Jeafosale), which reports to the institution's Health Division.
In a statement, the Army said her new rank, "in which she will assume demanding responsibilities, marks a milestone in the Army's 216-year history," and described it as recognition of her professional career.
The new general is a military polytechnic engineer. She worked in the Army's Logistics Division, directed its Central Dental Clinic and headed the Finance Department of the Health Division.
According to the official statement, she is married to a former Carabineros officer. Her 20-year-old son is in his second year at the Investigative Police School (PDI).
"I am proud to receive this great responsibility that the institution has entrusted to me and the command's trust," Acevedo said. She added that, with her promotion, she reaffirms her commitment to an institution "that has given me everything I need to develop and contribute to society."
The officer also spoke about those who came before her. She said she represents all women in the Army and that her promotion crowns "a path begun by those women 52 years ago, at the Women's Military School."
In addition to Acevedo's promotion, the Army promoted ten other colonels to brigadier general. The list includes Luis Cámpora Oñate, Felipe Jofré Letelier, Pablo Lizama Pieper, Patricio Zamora Chaparro, Rodrigo Álvarez Arellano, Jaime Fernández Wickel, Carlos Báez Jaime, Óscar Tacussis Miranda, Martín Mujica de la Barra and Christian Barros Cruzat.
Pablo León Gould, Ricardo Duarte Machuca and Javier Abarzúa Dasse were promoted from brigadier general to major general. Duarte will serve as Army Comptroller. León will take charge of the Metropolitan Region Army Garrison and the Military Industry and Engineering Command. Abarzúa will head the Northern Joint Command.
A total of 11 general officers are retiring. They include Major Generals Rodrigo Marchessi Acuña, Sebastián García-Huidobro Elzo and Juan Van de Wyngard Véliz. The institution attributed the departures to voluntary resignations, the completion of military careers and institutional needs.
Pedro Varela Sabando will continue as Commander-in-Chief, and Guillermo Altamirano Campos will serve as Chief of the General Staff. The 2027 High Command will have 47 general officers in 46 posts, in Chile and abroad, including the Chilean Military Mission in the United States.
