Óscar Izurieta Ferrer

Óscar Rodrigo Izurieta Ferrer (born 18 October 1950) is a retired Chilean Army general who served as Commander-in-Chief of the Chilean Army from 2006 to 2010. He later served as Chile's Undersecretary of Defence from 2010 to 2014 during the first administration of President Sebastián Piñera.

Early life and education

Izurieta was born in Viña del Mar, Chile, on 18 October 1950. He comes from a family with a military tradition: his father, Óscar Izurieta Molina, and his cousin, Ricardo Izurieta, both served as commanders-in-chief of the Chilean Army.

He entered the Bernardo O'Higgins Military Academy in 1965 and graduated as a second lieutenant in 1969, ranking first in his class. He specialised in infantry and later graduated from the Chilean Army War Academy as a staff officer in 1981, again ranking first in his class.

Izurieta holds a bachelor's degree in Military Sciences and a master's degree in Military Sciences, specialising in Strategic Planning and Management, from the Army War Academy. He also obtained a master's degree in political science, specialising in international relations, from the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile.

As part of his military education, Izurieta also attended the School of the Americas, completing courses there in 1970 and 1975.

Military career

During his career, Izurieta served as a military paratrooper and as an instructor in infantry tactics, military history, strategy, tactics and operations.

Among his principal assignments, he commanded the 8th "Tucapel" Infantry Regiment in Temuco from 1991 to 1993 and served as director of the Bernardo O'Higgins Military Academy from 1995 to 1997. In 1998, he was appointed military attaché to the Chilean embassy in the United Kingdom, followed by an appointment as head of the Chilean military mission in the United States in 1999.

From 2000 to 2001, he served as commander-in-chief of the Army's III Division, headquartered in Concepción. He subsequently served as the Army's director of operations in 2002 and 2003 and as commander of Institutes and Doctrine from 2004 until his appointment as commander-in-chief.

Izurieta was promoted to brigadier general in 1998 and to division general in 2002. In 2006, he reached the rank of army general and was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Chilean Army, succeeding Juan Emilio Cheyre. He took office on 9 March 2006 under President Ricardo Lagos and remained in command throughout most of the first presidency of Michelle Bachelet.

In December 2006, Izurieta oversaw the Chilean Army's institutional participation in the funeral ceremonies of former commander-in-chief Augusto Pinochet.

Izurieta completed his four-year term as commander-in-chief on 9 March 2010 and was succeeded by Juan Miguel Fuente-Alba.

Undersecretary of Defense

Shortly after retiring from active military service, Izurieta joined the first government of President Sebastián Piñera. On 25 March 2010, he was appointed the first Undersecretary of Defence following the creation of the office as part of the reorganisation of the Ministry of National Defense.

He remained in office throughout Piñera's first administration, leaving the post on 11 March 2014. He was succeeded by Marcos Robledo.

Decorations

• Grand Cross of the Military Order of Francisco Bolognesi (Peru).