General Luis Fernando Navarro joined the Colombian Army in 1980 and served for over forty years in the Colombian Armed Forces. He has extensive training and experience in areas related to Security, National Defense, Defense Diplomacy, as well as in the development and implementation of public policies.

He graduated in 1982 as an Army Officer in the infantry branch and served in infantry tactical units and command training schools from 1983 to 1994. Between 1995 and 2006, he worked in General Staff positions, commanded the “Batallon Colombia”, and served as the academic vice-rector of the Military School. Subsequently, from 2008 to 2009, he served as the Military, Naval, and Air Attaché at the Embassy in Chile.

In December of 2010, he was promoted to Brigadier General and until 2017 commanded Strategic Operational Units such as the “Fuerza de Despliegue Rapido”, the “Fuerza de Tarea Conjunta Omega”, and the “Comando Conjunto de Operaciones Especiales”, where he achieved significant accomplishments for the country's security, such as:

• Implementation of a state policy for the stabilization and recovery of La Macarena department, which involved government institutions, communities, and international cooperation.

• Contributions to the negotiation of peace agreements between the government and the FARC.

• Special operations against high-value military targets.

From 2018 to 2022, President Iván Duque designated him as the Commander General of the Colombian Armed Forces, achieving important milestones, including:

• Combating factors of instability that affected the nation's security.

• Addressing the COVID-19 pandemic through the planning and implementation of the San Roque Plan, which involved distributing over two million units of humanitarian aid, transporting medical supplies, and supporting the national vaccination campaign.

• Providing assistance during disasters caused by Hurricane Iota in the department of San Andrés and Providencia.

• Designing and executing the Artemis Plan for the protection of over sixty areas of special environmental interest in Colombia.

• Strengthening relations with NATO and enhancing cooperation programs in security, cybersecurity, and defense with the United States.

RECOGNITIONS

• Order of Boyacá.

• Medal of the Congress of the Republic.

• Military Duties and Virtues.

• Distinguished Services in Public Order.

• Distinguished Services to the Armed Forces.

• Distinguished Services to the Ministry of Defense.

• Legion of Merit. The United States of America.

• United States Special Operations Command Medal.

• Military Star Medal of the Armed Forces of Chile.

He holds a degree in Military Sciences, a Diploma in Staff College, a Diploma in Business Administration from the Catholic University of Chile and completed the Executive Leadership Program at INALDE of the Universidad de la Sabana. He graduated from the Higher War College's Advanced Military Studies Course and obtained a Master's degree in Security and National Defense.

Currently, he continues his public service as the Secretary of Government for the Department of Cundinamarca.