At the operational level, the most visible changes are concentrated in Military Aviation.
MIAMI, United States. – Delcy Rodríguez, appointed president in charge by decision of the Venezuelan Supreme Court of Justice (TSJ) after the events of January 3, ordered a first batch of 28 movements in command of the Bolivarian National Armed Forces (FANB), which includes new chiefs in the two main air bases of the country, changes in two Strategic Regions of Comprehensive Defense (REDI), in 12 Comprehensive Defense Operational Zones (ZODI), in addition to appointments in the National Guard, brigades and military academies, in accordance with resolutions signed by the Minister of Defense, General Vladimir Padrino López.
According to the reportin the resolutions Padrino López attributes the movements to an order from Rodríguez “in her capacity as president in charge of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, in accordance with the Decision of the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court of Justice in a Joint Report dated January 3, 2026.”
The restructuring comes in a political context marked by the decision of the TSJ to activate a “trusteeship” scheme after the capture of Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, during a US military operation.
At the operational level, the most visible changes are concentrated in Military Aviation. For the “Generalísimo Francisco de Miranda” Air Base (La Carlota), in Caracas, Brigadier General Fidel Humberto Olivo Pacheco Ramírez was appointed to replace Major General José Freitas Gómez; and for the “El Libertador” Air Base (BAEL), Major General Marco Antonio Vásquez Pérez was appointed, replacing Major General Jesús Alberto Fernández Peñaloza, according to the list released.
In the REDI, it is reported that Los Andes remained under the command of Major General Pablo Ernesto Lizano Colmenter, who replaces Major General José Gregorio Martínez Campos, while in the Eastern REDI Major General Juan Ernesto Sulbarán Quintero was relieved and Major General Erasmo Eduardo Ramos Iriza took over.
The coverage also details changes to 12 ZODI. In Táchira, Major General Michell Leonardo Valladares Molina was replaced by Major General Carlos Augusto Bastidas Bastidas; in Trujillo, Major General Lumar José Hernández Vargas was appointed; in Barinas, Major General Gustavo Enrique Belizario Sánchez; in Falcón, Major General José Yunior Herrera Duarte; in Monagas, Major General José Gregorio Caldera Vivas; in Miranda, Major General Rufo Daniel Parra Hernández; in Yaracuy, Major General José Freitas Gómez; in Aragua, Major General Francisco Javier Sánchez Carballo; in Delta Amacuro, Major General Miguel Andrés Chacín Socorro; in Nueva Esparta, Vice Admiral Pedro Elías González Rubio; in the Western Maritime and Insular ZODI, Vice Admiral Uldren Alberto Gedde Díaz; and in the Eastern Maritime and Insular ZODI, Vice Admiral Juan José Solórzano Araujo.
In the Bolivarian National Guard (GNB), the report indicates six resolutions of changes, among them the replacement in the National People’s Guard Command: there Major General Carlos Eduardo Aigster Villamizar was appointed to replace Ramos Iriza, who went to the REDI Oriental. The appointment of Major General Rafael José Hernández Aguirre as head of the National Anti-Drug Command is also reported.
Regarding Aigster Villamizar, the text indicates that he had been sanctioned by the United States Department of the Treasury in November 2024. In the official OFAC records he appears effectively incorporated into the list of designations “Venezuela-related” dated November 27, 2024, and the Treasury itself mentions him in its statement that day as one of the senior commanders linked to operational zones and military districts of the GNB.
The changes also include replacements in GNB zone commands: Brigadier General Ángel Roberto Puerta Saiz was appointed to CZGNB 21 (Táchira); Brigadier General Oswaldo Ramón Rengifo Armas entered CZGNB 42 (Aragua); Brigadier General Misael Ricardo Luna Párica was appointed to CZGNB 42 (Capital District); and in CZGNB 61 (Delta Amacuro) Brigadier General César Junior Mendoza Medina took over.
In the Army component, changes are reported in three brigades: the 31st Mechanized Infantry Brigade became commanded by Brigadier General Carlos Esteban Castillo León; the 33rd Caribbean Brigade was under the command of Brigadier General Pawer Avelino González García; and the 94th Special Brigade “Negro Primero” passed to Brigadier General José Luis Terán Albarrán.
Finally, replacements are reported in three military academies: Rear Admiral Ronald José Briceño Huerta was appointed to the Navy Military Academy; Brigadier General Lansford José Castillo López was appointed to the Army Military Academy; and in the Military Academy of the Bolivarian National Guard, Brigadier General Darwin Andrés Crespo Rojas was replaced by Brigadier General Franklin Martín Meléndez Rivas, identified as the brother of Carmen Teresa Meléndez, former Minister of Defense and current mayor of Caracas, according to the same report.
