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{{Short description|Supreme military body of Portugal}}
{{Infobox military unit
{{Infobox military unit
|unit_name=Armed Forces General Staff<br>''Estado-Maior-General das Forças Armadas''
|unit_name=Armed Forces General Staff
|native_name=Estado-Maior-General das Forças Armadas
|image=[[Image:Military flag of Portugal.svg|200px]]
|image=Military flag of Portugal.svg
|image_size=150px
|caption=Military Standard of Portugal
|caption=Military Standard of Portugal
|dates= 1950–1974 (SGDN);<br>1974–present (EMGFA)
|dates=1950–1974 (SGDN);<br>1974–present (EMGFA)
|country= [[Portugal]]
|country=[[Portugal]]
|allegiance=
|branch=[[Armed forces]]
|branch=[[Armed forces]]
|type= [[Staff (military)|Military staff]]
|type=[[Staff (military)|Military staff]]
|role=
|role=
|size=
|size=
|command_structure=[[Portuguese Armed Forces]]
|command_structure=[[Portuguese Armed Forces]]
|garrison=Lisbon
|garrison=[[Lisbon]]
|garrison_label=Headquarters
|garrison_label=Headquarters
|nickname=
|nickname=
|patron=
|patron=
|motto=''Que quem quis sempre pôde''<br>(That anyone who wanted always could)
|motto=''Que quem quis sempre pôde''<br>("Who wills aye finds a way", from ''[[Os Lusíadas|The Lusiads]]'', Canto IX, 95, v. 6)
|battles=[[Annexation of Goa]]<br/>[[Portuguese Colonial War]]<br/>[[IFOR]]<br/>[[SFOR]]<br/>[[EUFOR]]<br/>[[Kosovo Force|KFOR]]<br/>[[War in Afghanistan (2001–present)|Afghanistan War]]<br/>'''Peacekeaping missions'''<br/>[[Angola]]<br/>[[Bosnia and Herzegovina]]<br/>[[Croatia]]<br/>[[North Macedonia]]<br/>[[Western Sahara]]<br/>[[Georgia (country)|Georgia]]<br/>[[Lebanon]]
|colors=
|website={{URL|www.emgfa.pt}}
|colors_label=
|march=
|mascot=
|equipment=
|equipment_label=
|battles= [[Invasion of Goa]]<br/>[[Portuguese Colonial War]]<br/>[[IFOR]]<br/>[[SFOR]]<br/>[[EUFOR]]<br/>[[Kosovo Force|KFOR]]<br/>[[War in Afghanistan (2001–present)|Afghanistan War]]<br/>'''Peacekeaping Missions'''<br/>-[[Angola]]<br/>-[[Bosnia]]<br/>-[[Croatia]]<br/>-[[Republic of Macedonia|Macedonia]]<br/>-[[Western Sahara]]<br/>-[[Georgia (country)|Georgia]]<br/>-[[Lebanon]]
|anniversaries=
|decorations=
|battle_honours=
<!-- Commanders -->
<!-- Commanders -->
|commander1=General Artur Neves Pina Monteiro
|commander1=General [[:pt:Jos%C3%A9 Nunes da Fonseca|José Nunes da Fonseca]]
|commander1_label=Current Chief
[http://www.emgfa.pt www.emgfa.pt]
|commander1_label=Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces
|commander2=
|commander2_label=
|commander3=
|commander3_label=
|notable_commanders=
|notable_commanders=
<!-- Insignia -->
<!-- Insignia -->
|identification_symbol=EMGFA
|identification_symbol_label=Abbreviation
|identification_symbol_2=
|identification_symbol_2=
|identification_symbol_2_label=
|identification_symbol_2_label=
|identification_symbol_3=
|identification_symbol_3=
|identification_symbol_3_label=
|identification_symbol_3_label=
<!-- Insignia -->
|identification_symbol=
|identification_symbol_label=
|identification_symbol_2=
}}
}}
The '''Armed Forces General Staff''' ({{lang-pt|Estado-Maior-General das Forças Armadas}}) or '''EMGFA''', is the supreme military body of [[Portugal]]. It is responsible for the planning, the command and the control of the [[Portuguese Armed Forces]].
The '''Armed Forces General Staff''' ({{lang-pt|Estado-Maior-General das Forças Armadas}}), or '''EMGFA''', is the supreme military body of [[Portugal]]. It is responsible for the planning, command and control of the [[Portuguese Armed Forces]].


EMGFA is headed by the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces ({{lang-pt|Chefe do Estado-Maior-General das Forças Armadas}}) or CEMGFA, the highest rank [[general]] in the Portuguese Armed Forces.
EMGFA is headed by the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces ({{lang-pt|Chefe do Estado-Maior-General das Forças Armadas}}) or CEMGFA, the highest rank of [[general]] in the Portuguese Armed Forces.


==History==
== History ==
The present Armed Forces General Staff was created in 1950, as the '''Secretariat-General of National Defence''' ({{lang-pt|Secretariado-Geral da Defesa Nacional}}) or '''SGDN'''. The SGDN was the central planning organization of the Defense, being headed by the Chief of the Armed Forces General Staff, under the dependency of the [[Ministry of National Defence (Portugal)|minister of National Defense]] (both roles also being created at the same time). Besides having the role of secretary-general of the SGDN, the CEMGFA also assumed most of the responsibilities until then assigned to the military heads of the Navy and of the Army (the then existing [[service branch]]es, as the Air Force would only be created in 1952). The creation of the SGDN and of the roles of CEMGFA and minister of National Defense marked the integration of the several military service branches and so the creation of the Armed Forces of Portugal as single organization
In 1950, as part of the Portuguese military reforms related with the lessons learned following World War II, the start of the [[Cold War]] and the foundation of [[NATO]], the roles of [[Ministry of National Defence (Portugal)|minister of National Defence]] and of Chief of the Armed Forces General Staff (CEMGFA) were created. The creation of these roles was a major step in the planned integration of the several military [[service branch]]es and so the establishment of the Armed Forces of Portugal as a single organization. The CEMGFA assumed most of the responsibilities until then assigned to the military heads of the Navy and of the Army, the then existing service branches, as the Air Force would only be created in 1952.


At the same time and as a forerunner of a future General Staff, the '''Secretariat-General of National Defence''' ({{lang-pt|Secretariado-Geral da Defesa Nacional}}) or '''SGDN''' was established. The SGDN was the central planning organization of the Defence, being headed by the CEMGFA.
In 1969, it was decreed that SGDN should be remodeled in order to be transformed in the EMGFA, as the organization for the joint administration of the Armed Forces. However, transformation of the SGDN in to the EMGFA eventually occurred only in 1974.


In 1969, it was decreed that SGDN should be remodelled in order to be transformed into the Armed Forces General Staff (EMGFA), as the organization for the joint administration of the Armed Forces. However, transformation of the SGDN into the EMGFA occurred only in 1974.
==Organization==

The Armed Forces General Staff is integrated in the [[Ministry of National Defence (Portugal)|Portuguese Ministry of National Defence]] and includes:
== Organization ==
* The Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces (CEMGFA);
The Armed Forces General Staff is integrated into the [[Ministry of National Defence (Portugal)|Portuguese Ministry of National Defence]] and includes:
* The Joint Staff (EMC, ''Estado-Maior Conjunto'');
* The Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces (CEMGFA)
* The Joint Operational Command (COC, ''Comando Operacional Conjunto'');
* The Joint Staff (EMC, ''Estado-Maior Conjunto'')
* The operational commands of the [[Azores]] and [[Madeira]];
* The Joint Operational Command (COC, ''Comando Operacional Conjunto'')
* The [[commander-in-chief#Portugal|commanders-in-chief]] that can be created under the CEMGFA, in times of war;
* The operational commands of the [[Azores]] and [[Madeira]]
* The [[CISMIL|Military Security and Information Center]] (CISMIL, ''Centro de Informações e Segurança Militares'');
* The [[commander-in-chief#Portugal|commanders-in-chief]] that can be created under the CEMGFA, in times of war
* The general support organizations.
* The [[Centro de Informações e Segurança Militares|Military Security and Information Center]] (CISMIL, ''Centro de Informações e Segurança Militares'')
* The general support organizations


Under the dependency of the CEMGFA are also:
Under the dependency of the CEMGFA are also:
* The [[Portuguese Joint Command and Staff College]] (IESM, ''Instituto de Estudos Superiores Militares'');
* The [[Portuguese Joint Command and Staff College]] (IESM, ''Instituto de Estudos Superiores Militares'')
* The Hospital of the Armed Forces (HFAR, ''Hospital das Forças Armadas'').
* The Hospital of the Armed Forces (HFAR, ''Hospital das Forças Armadas'')


==The Chief of the General Staff==
== Chief of the General Staff ==
The Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces is the operacional commander of the Portuguese Armed Forces in times of peace. In times of war, he assumes the complete command of the Armed Forces. The CEMGFA is a general officer of one of the three branches of the Armed Forces ([[Portuguese Navy|Navy]], [[Portuguese Army|Army]] or [[Portuguese Air Force|Air Force]]), appointed by the [[President of the Portuguese Republic]], by proposal of the [[Government of Portugal]].
The Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces is the operational commander of the Portuguese Armed Forces in times of peace. In times of war, he assumes the complete command of the Armed Forces. The CEMGFA is a general officer of one of the three branches of the Armed Forces ([[Portuguese Army|Army]], [[Portuguese Navy|Navy]] and [[Portuguese Air Force|Air Force]]), appointed by the [[President of Portugal]], by proposal of the [[Government of Portugal]].


== List of chiefs of the General Staff of the Armed Forces ==
=== List of chiefs of the General Staff ===
{{Officeholder table start
* Army general Aníbal César Valdês de Passos e Sousa (1950–1951)
| showorder = y
* [[Rear-admiral]] Manuel Ortins de Bettencourt (1951–1955)
| showimage = y
* Army general Júlio Carlos Alves Dias Botelho Moniz (1955–1958)
| image_title = Portrait
* Army general José António da Rocha Beleza Ferraz (1958–1961)
| officeholder_title = Chief
* Army general Manuel Gomes de Araújo (1961–1962)
| showtermlenght = y
* Air Force general Venâncio Augusto Deslandes (1968–1972)
| showparty = n
* Army general [[Francisco da Costa Gomes]] (1972–1974)
| showdefencebranch = y
* Army general Joaquim da Luz Rocha (1974)
| showref = y
* Army general Francisco da Costa Gomes (1974–1976)
}}
* Army general [[António dos Santos Ramalho Eanes]] (1976–1981)
{{Officeholder table
* Army general [[Nuno Viriato Tavares de Melo Egídio]] (1981–1984)
| order = 1
* Air Force general José Lemos Ferreira (1984–1989)
| image =
* Army general António da Silva Osório Soares Carneiro (1989–1994)
| military_rank = [[General]]
* [[Admiral]] António Carlos Fuzeta da Ponte (1994–1998)
| officeholder = {{ill|Aníbal César Valdez de Passos e Sousa|pt}}
* Army general Gabriel Augusto do Espírito Santo (1998–2000)
| officeholder_sort = de Passos e Sousa, Aníbal César Valdês
* Air Force general Manuel José Alvarenga de Sousa Santos (2000–2002)
| born_year = 1884
* Admiral José Manuel Garcia Mendes Cabeçadas (2002–2006)
| died_year = 1954
* Army general Luís Valença Pinto (2006–2011)
| term_start = 5 August 1950
* Air Force general [[Luís Araújo|Luís Evangelista Esteves Araújo]] (2011–2014)
| term_end = 6 December 1951
* Army General Artur Neves Pina Monteiro (2014–present)<ref>http://eeas.europa.eu/csdp/structures-instruments-agencies/eumc/documents/general-pina-monteiro.pdf</ref>
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1950|08|05|1951|12|06}}

| defence_branch = {{army|Portugal}}
== References ==
| ref = –
* RIBEIRO, António S., ''Organização Superior da Defesa Nacional'', Prefácio, 2004
}}
{{reflist}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 2
| image =
| military_rank = [[Rear admiral]]
| officeholder = {{ill|Manuel Ortins de Bettencourt|pt}}
| officeholder_sort = de Bettencourt, Manuel Ortins
| born_year = 1892
| died_year = 1969
| term_start = 12 December 1951
| term_end = 9 February 1955
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1951|12|12|1955|02|09}}
| defence_branch = {{navy|Portugal}}
| ref = –
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 3
| image =
| military_rank = General
| officeholder = [[Júlio Botelho Moniz]]
| officeholder_sort = Moniz, Júlio Botelho
| born_year = 1900
| died_year = 1979
| term_start = 3 March 1955
| term_end = 13 August 1958
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1955|03|03|1958|08|13}}
| defence_branch = {{army|Portugal}}
| ref = –
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 4
| image =
| military_rank = General
| officeholder = [[J. A. Beleza Ferraz|José António da Rocha Beleza Ferraz]]
| officeholder_sort = Ferraz, José António da Rocha Beleza
| born_year = 1901
| died_year = ?
| term_start = 22 August 1958
| term_end = 12 April 1961
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1958|08|22|1961|04|12}}
| defence_branch = {{army|Portugal}}
| ref = –
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 5
| image = Manuel Gomes de Araujo - GazetaCF 1475 1949.jpg
| military_rank = General
| officeholder = {{ill|Manuel Gomes de Araújo|pt}}
| officeholder_sort = de Araújo, Manuel Gomes
| born_year = 1897
| died_year = 1982
| term_start = 13 April 1961
| term_end = 3 December 1962
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1961|04|13|1962|12|03}}
| defence_branch = {{army|Portugal}}
| ref = –
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 6
| image =
| military_rank = General
| officeholder = {{ill|Venâncio Augusto Deslandes|pt}}
| officeholder_sort = Deslandes, Venâncio Augusto
| born_year = 1909
| died_year = 1985
| term_start = 16 August 1968
| term_end = 4 September 1972
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1968|08|16|1972|09|04}}
| defence_branch = {{air force|Portugal}}
| ref = –
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 7
| image = Francisco Costa Gomes Roma 1975.jpg
| military_rank = General
| officeholder = [[Francisco da Costa Gomes]]
| officeholder_sort = Gomes, Francisco da Costa
| officeholder_note = {{efn|Dismissed because of refusal to swear loyalty to the [[Prime Minister of Portugal|Prime Minister]] [[Marcello Caetano]] in a public ceremony}}
| born_year = 1914
| died_year = 2001
| term_start = 5 September 1972
| term_end = 13 March 1974
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1972|09|05|1974|03|13}}
| defence_branch = {{army|Portugal}}
| ref = –
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 8
| image =
| military_rank = General
| officeholder = {{ill|Joaquim da Luz Cunha|pt}}
| officeholder_sort = Cunha, Joaquim da Luz
| officeholder_note = {{efn|Dismissed following the [[Carnation Revolution]]}}
| born_year = 1914
| died_year = ?
| term_start = 19 March 1974
| term_end = 28 April 1974
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1974|03|19|1974|04|28}}
| defence_branch = {{army|Portugal}}
| ref = –
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = (7)
| image = Francisco Costa Gomes Roma 1975.jpg
| military_rank = General
| officeholder = [[Francisco da Costa Gomes]]
| officeholder_sort = Gomes, Francisco da Costa
| officeholder_note = {{efn|Simultaneously served as President of the [[National Salvation Junta]] (30 September 1974 – 14 March 1975), [[List of Presidents of Portugal|15th]] [[President of Portugal]] (30 September 1974 – 13 July 1976) and President of the [[Revolutionary Council (Portugal)|Revolutionary Council]] (14 March 1975 – 13 July 1976)}}
| born_year = 1914
| died_year = 2001
| term_start = 29 April 1974
| term_end = 13 July 1976
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1974|04|29|1976|07|13}}
| defence_branch = {{army|Portugal}}
| ref = –
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 9
| image = António Ramalho Eanes.jpg
| military_rank = General
| officeholder = [[António Ramalho Eanes]]
| officeholder_sort = Eanes, António Ramalho
| officeholder_note = {{efn|Simultaneously served as [[List of Presidents of Portugal|16th]] [[President of Portugal]] (14 July 1976 – 9 March 1986) and President of the [[Revolutionary Council (Portugal)|Revolutionary Council]] (14 July 1976 – 30 September 1982)}}
| born_year = 1935
| died_year =
| term_start = 14 July 1976
| term_end = 16 February 1981
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1976|07|14|1981|02|16}}
| defence_branch = {{army|Portugal}}
| ref = –
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 10
| image =
| military_rank = General
| officeholder = [[Nuno Viriato Tavares de Melo Egídio]]
| officeholder_sort = de Melo Egídio, Nuno Viriato Tavares
| born_year = 1922
| died_year = 2011
| term_start = 17 February 1981
| term_end = 18 February 1984
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1981|02|17|1984|02|18}}
| defence_branch = {{army|Portugal}}
| ref = –
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 11
| image =
| military_rank = General
| officeholder = {{ill|José Lemos Ferreira|pt}}
| officeholder_sort = Ferreira, José Lemos
| born_year = 1929
| died_year = 2020
| term_start = 1 March 1984
| term_end = 8 March 1989
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1984|03|01|1989|03|08}}
| defence_branch = {{air force|Portugal}}
| ref = –
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 12
| image =
| military_rank = General
| officeholder = [[António Soares Carneiro]]
| officeholder_sort = Carneiro, António Soares
| born_year = 1928
| died_year = 2014
| term_start = 29 March 1989
| term_end = 25 January 1994
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1989|03|29|1994|01|25}}
| defence_branch = {{army|Portugal}}
| ref = –
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 13
| image =
| military_rank = [[Admiral]]
| officeholder = {{ill|António Carlos Fuzeta da Ponte|pt}}
| officeholder_sort = da Ponte, António Carlos Fuzeta
| born_year = 1935
| died_year =
| term_start = 21 February 1994
| term_end = 9 March 1998
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1994|02|21|1998|03|09}}
| defence_branch = {{navy|Portugal}}
| ref = –
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 14
| image =
| military_rank = General
| officeholder = {{ill|Gabriel Espírito Santo|pt}}
| officeholder_sort = Santo, Gabriel Espírito
| born_year = 1936
| died_year = 2014
| term_start = 17 March 1998
| term_end = 8 August 2000
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1998|03|17|2000|08|08}}
| defence_branch = {{army|Portugal}}
| ref = –
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 15
| image =
| military_rank = General
| officeholder = {{ill|Manuel José Alvarenga de Sousa Santos|pt}}
| officeholder_sort = Santos, Manuel José Alvarenga de Sousa
| born_year = 1940
| died_year =
| term_start = 12 August 2000
| term_end = 23 August 2002
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2000|08|12|2002|08|23}}
| defence_branch = {{air force|Portugal}}
| ref = –
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 16
| image =
| military_rank = Admiral
| officeholder = {{ill|José Manuel Garcia Mendes Cabeçadas|pt}}
| officeholder_sort = Cabeçadas, José Manuel Garcia Mendes
| born_year = 1943
| died_year =
| term_start = 4 November 2002
| term_end = 5 December 2006
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2002|11|04|2006|12|05}}
| defence_branch = {{navy|Portugal}}
| ref = –
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 17
| image =
| military_rank = General
| officeholder = {{ill|Luís Valença Pinto|pt|Luís Vasco Valença Pinto}}
| officeholder_sort = Pinto, Luís Valença
| born_year = 1946
| died_year =
| term_start = 5 December 2006
| term_end = 4 February 2011
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2006|12|05|2011|02|04}}
| defence_branch = {{army|Portugal}}
| ref = –
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 18
| image = Luisaraujo.jpg
| military_rank = General
| officeholder = [[Luís Araújo|Luís Evangelista Esteves Araújo]]
| officeholder_sort = Araújo, Luís Evangelista Esteves
| born_year = 1949
| died_year = 2023
| term_start = 7 February 2011
| term_end = 7 February 2014
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2011|02|07|2014|02|07}}
| defence_branch = {{air force|Portugal}}
| ref = –
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 19
| image =
| military_rank = General
| officeholder = {{ill|Artur Neves Pina Monteiro|pt}}
| officeholder_sort = Monteiro, Artur Neves Pina
| born_year = 1952
| died_year =
| term_start = 7 February 2014
| term_end = 1 March 2018
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2014|02|07|2018|03|01}}
| defence_branch = {{army|Portugal}}
| ref = –
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 20
| image = Rear Adm. Antonio Silva Ribeiro, Deputy Vice Chief of the Portuguese Naval Staff, Portuguese Navy (5222172280) (cropped).jpg
| military_rank = Admiral
| officeholder = [[António da Silva Ribeiro]]
| officeholder_sort = Ribeiro, António da Silva
| born_year = 1957
| died_year =
| term_start = 1 March 2018
| term_end = 1 March 2023
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2018|03|01|2023|03|01}}
| defence_branch = {{navy|Portugal}}
| ref = –
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 21
| image =
| military_rank = General
| officeholder = {{ill|José Nunes da Fonseca|pt}}
| officeholder_sort = da Fonseca, José Nunes
| born_year = 1961
| died_year =
| term_start = 1 March 2023
| term_end = Incumbent
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2023|03|01}}
| defence_branch = {{army|Portugal}}
| ref = –
}}
{{Officeholder table end}}


== See also ==
== See also ==
Line 101: Line 389:
* [[Portuguese Air Force]]
* [[Portuguese Air Force]]
* [[Portuguese Navy]]
* [[Portuguese Navy]]
* [[Portuguese National Republican Guard]]
* [[National Republican Guard (Portugal)]]

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

== References ==
* RIBEIRO, António S., ''Organização Superior da Defesa Nacional'', Prefácio, 2004
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* [http://www.emgfa.pt Armed Forces General Staff – Official Site]


{{Military of Portugal}}
{{Military of Portugal}}
{{Chief of military by country}}
{{Authority control}}


[[Category:Military of Portugal]]
[[Category:Staff (military)]]
[[Category:Staff (military)]]
[[Category:Military chiefs of staff]]
[[Category:Chiefs of defence|Portugal]]
[[Category:1950 establishments in Portugal]]
[[Category:Military of Portugal]]

Revision as of 13:39, 14 March 2024

Armed Forces General Staff
Estado-Maior-General das Forças Armadas
Military Standard of Portugal
Active1950–1974 (SGDN);
1974–present (EMGFA)
CountryPortugal
BranchArmed forces
TypeMilitary staff
Part ofPortuguese Armed Forces
HeadquartersLisbon
Motto(s)Que quem quis sempre pôde
("Who wills aye finds a way", from The Lusiads, Canto IX, 95, v. 6)
EngagementsAnnexation of Goa
Portuguese Colonial War
IFOR
SFOR
EUFOR
KFOR
Afghanistan War
Peacekeaping missions
Angola
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Croatia
North Macedonia
Western Sahara
Georgia
Lebanon
Websitewww.emgfa.pt
Commanders
Current ChiefGeneral José Nunes da Fonseca
Insignia
AbbreviationEMGFA

The Armed Forces General Staff (Template:Lang-pt), or EMGFA, is the supreme military body of Portugal. It is responsible for the planning, command and control of the Portuguese Armed Forces.

EMGFA is headed by the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces (Template:Lang-pt) or CEMGFA, the highest rank of general in the Portuguese Armed Forces.

History

In 1950, as part of the Portuguese military reforms related with the lessons learned following World War II, the start of the Cold War and the foundation of NATO, the roles of minister of National Defence and of Chief of the Armed Forces General Staff (CEMGFA) were created. The creation of these roles was a major step in the planned integration of the several military service branches and so the establishment of the Armed Forces of Portugal as a single organization. The CEMGFA assumed most of the responsibilities until then assigned to the military heads of the Navy and of the Army, the then existing service branches, as the Air Force would only be created in 1952.

At the same time and as a forerunner of a future General Staff, the Secretariat-General of National Defence (Template:Lang-pt) or SGDN was established. The SGDN was the central planning organization of the Defence, being headed by the CEMGFA.

In 1969, it was decreed that SGDN should be remodelled in order to be transformed into the Armed Forces General Staff (EMGFA), as the organization for the joint administration of the Armed Forces. However, transformation of the SGDN into the EMGFA occurred only in 1974.

Organization

The Armed Forces General Staff is integrated into the Portuguese Ministry of National Defence and includes:

  • The Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces (CEMGFA)
  • The Joint Staff (EMC, Estado-Maior Conjunto)
  • The Joint Operational Command (COC, Comando Operacional Conjunto)
  • The operational commands of the Azores and Madeira
  • The commanders-in-chief that can be created under the CEMGFA, in times of war
  • The Military Security and Information Center (CISMIL, Centro de Informações e Segurança Militares)
  • The general support organizations

Under the dependency of the CEMGFA are also:

Chief of the General Staff

The Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces is the operational commander of the Portuguese Armed Forces in times of peace. In times of war, he assumes the complete command of the Armed Forces. The CEMGFA is a general officer of one of the three branches of the Armed Forces (Army, Navy and Air Force), appointed by the President of Portugal, by proposal of the Government of Portugal.

List of chiefs of the General Staff

No. Portrait Chief Took office Left office Time in office Defence branch Ref.
1
Aníbal César Valdez de Passos e Sousa [pt]
de Passos e Sousa, Aníbal César ValdêsGeneral
Aníbal César Valdez de Passos e Sousa [pt]
(1884–1954)		5 August 19506 December 19511 year, 123 days Portuguese Army–
2
Manuel Ortins de Bettencourt [pt]
de Bettencourt, Manuel OrtinsRear admiral
Manuel Ortins de Bettencourt [pt]
(1892–1969)		12 December 19519 February 19553 years, 59 days Portuguese Navy–
3
Júlio Botelho Moniz
Moniz, Júlio BotelhoGeneral
Júlio Botelho Moniz
(1900–1979)		3 March 195513 August 19583 years, 163 days Portuguese Army–
4
José António da Rocha Beleza Ferraz
Ferraz, José António da Rocha BelezaGeneral
José António da Rocha Beleza Ferraz
(1901–?)		22 August 195812 April 19612 years, 233 days Portuguese Army–
5
Manuel Gomes de Araújo [pt]
de Araújo, Manuel GomesGeneral
Manuel Gomes de Araújo [pt]
(1897–1982)		13 April 19613 December 19621 year, 234 days Portuguese Army–
6
Venâncio Augusto Deslandes [pt]
Deslandes, Venâncio AugustoGeneral
Venâncio Augusto Deslandes [pt]
(1909–1985)		16 August 19684 September 19724 years, 19 days Portuguese Air Force–
7
Francisco da Costa Gomes
Gomes, Francisco da CostaGeneral
Francisco da Costa Gomes
(1914–2001)
[a]		5 September 197213 March 19741 year, 189 days Portuguese Army–
8
Joaquim da Luz Cunha [pt]
Cunha, Joaquim da LuzGeneral
Joaquim da Luz Cunha [pt]
(1914–?)
[b]		19 March 197428 April 197440 days Portuguese Army–
(7)
Francisco da Costa Gomes
Gomes, Francisco da CostaGeneral
Francisco da Costa Gomes
(1914–2001)
[c]		29 April 197413 July 19762 years, 75 days Portuguese Army–
9
António Ramalho Eanes
Eanes, António RamalhoGeneral
António Ramalho Eanes
(born 1935)
[d]		14 July 197616 February 19814 years, 217 days Portuguese Army–
10
Nuno Viriato Tavares de Melo Egídio
de Melo Egídio, Nuno Viriato TavaresGeneral
Nuno Viriato Tavares de Melo Egídio
(1922–2011)		17 February 198118 February 19843 years, 1 day Portuguese Army–
11
José Lemos Ferreira [pt]
Ferreira, José LemosGeneral
José Lemos Ferreira [pt]
(1929–2020)		1 March 19848 March 19895 years, 7 days Portuguese Air Force–
12
António Soares Carneiro
Carneiro, António SoaresGeneral
António Soares Carneiro
(1928–2014)		29 March 198925 January 19944 years, 302 days Portuguese Army–
13
António Carlos Fuzeta da Ponte [pt]
da Ponte, António Carlos FuzetaAdmiral
António Carlos Fuzeta da Ponte [pt]
(born 1935)		21 February 19949 March 19984 years, 16 days Portuguese Navy–
14
Gabriel Espírito Santo [pt]
Santo, Gabriel EspíritoGeneral
Gabriel Espírito Santo [pt]
(1936–2014)		17 March 19988 August 20002 years, 144 days Portuguese Army–
15
Manuel José Alvarenga de Sousa Santos [pt]
Santos, Manuel José Alvarenga de SousaGeneral
Manuel José Alvarenga de Sousa Santos [pt]
(born 1940)		12 August 200023 August 20022 years, 11 days Portuguese Air Force–
16
José Manuel Garcia Mendes Cabeçadas [pt]
Cabeçadas, José Manuel Garcia MendesAdmiral
José Manuel Garcia Mendes Cabeçadas [pt]
(born 1943)		4 November 20025 December 20064 years, 31 days Portuguese Navy–
17
Luís Valença Pinto [pt]
Pinto, Luís ValençaGeneral
Luís Valença Pinto [pt]
(born 1946)		5 December 20064 February 20114 years, 61 days Portuguese Army–
18
Luís Evangelista Esteves Araújo
Araújo, Luís Evangelista EstevesGeneral
Luís Evangelista Esteves Araújo
(1949–2023)		7 February 20117 February 20143 years, 0 days Portuguese Air Force–
19
Artur Neves Pina Monteiro [pt]
Monteiro, Artur Neves PinaGeneral
Artur Neves Pina Monteiro [pt]
(born 1952)		7 February 20141 March 20184 years, 22 days Portuguese Army–
20
António da Silva Ribeiro
Ribeiro, António da SilvaAdmiral
António da Silva Ribeiro
(born 1957)		1 March 20181 March 20235 years, 0 days Portuguese Navy–
21
José Nunes da Fonseca [pt]
da Fonseca, José NunesGeneral
José Nunes da Fonseca [pt]
(born 1961)		1 March 2023Incumbent1 year, 256 days Portuguese Army–

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Dismissed because of refusal to swear loyalty to the Prime Minister Marcello Caetano in a public ceremony
  2. ^ Dismissed following the Carnation Revolution
  3. ^ Simultaneously served as President of the National Salvation Junta (30 September 1974 – 14 March 1975), 15th President of Portugal (30 September 1974 – 13 July 1976) and President of the Revolutionary Council (14 March 1975 – 13 July 1976)
  4. ^ Simultaneously served as 16th President of Portugal (14 July 1976 – 9 March 1986) and President of the Revolutionary Council (14 July 1976 – 30 September 1982)

References

  • RIBEIRO, António S., Organização Superior da Defesa Nacional, Prefácio, 2004
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