Javier Iturriaga del Campo

Javier Eduardo Iturriaga del Campo (born 26 October 1965) is a Chilean military general.

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Iturriaga and the second or maternal family name is del Campo.
Javier Iturriaga del Campo
Commander-in-chief of the Chile Army
Assumed office
9 March 2022
Appointed bySebastián Piñera[1][2]
Preceded byRicardo Martínez Menanteau
Chief of the Joint Chiefs of Defence of Chile
In office
13 November 2020 – 9 March 2022
PresidentSebastián Piñera
Preceded byRodrigo Álvarez Aguirre
Chief of Defence of the Metropolitan Region of Santiago
In office
19 October 2019 – 1 November 2019
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded byCarlos Ricotti Velásquez
Military attaché of Chile in Brazil
In office
January 2014 – December 2014
Personal details
Born (1965-10-25) 25 October 1965
Santiago, Chile
Parent(s)Dante Iturriaga
Gloria del Campo Ortiz
Alma materBernardo O'Higgins Military Academy
Military service
Allegiance Chile
Branch/service Chilean Army
Years of service1980–present
RankArmy General

He obtained a Bachelor's degree in military science and a master's degree in the same area with a major in planning and strategic management from Chilean Army War Academy.

He is known for having been appointed Chief for National Defense of Santiago Metropolitan Region by President Sebastián Piñera during the state of emergency that he decreted in 2019–20 riots famously known as Estallido Social de Chile.[3][4][5][6][7]

Early life

He is the son of Dante Iturriaga Marchese,[8] a military man by profession, and Gloria del Campo Ortiz.[8] He is the second of six siblings and nephew of the also militar Pablo Iturriaga, Cautín Province Mayor in 1974[9] involved in human right violations cases during Augusto Pinochet's dictatorship (1973–1990).[10][11]

Military career

He joined the Military Academy of General Libertator Bernardo O'Higgins in 1980.[12] During his military career, he has served as a General Staff Officer and Infantry Weapon and Military Academy Professor. Likewise, he has Commando and Paratrooper specialties.[13][14]

In 2014, he was designed by the President Michelle Bachelet as a military attaché in Brazil.[15] In 2017, Iturriaga gained notoriety during January wildfires in Chile where he assumed the control of military forces in the town of Santa Olga.[16] One year later, in November 2018, he was appointed by the President Sebastián Piñera as the General of the Chilean Army after the removal of eighteen generals amid the institution crisis related to economic fraud.[17] Thus, he served as the Commander of Education and Doctrine of the Army.[14]

On 19 October 2019, Iturriaga was appointed by Piñera as Chief for National Defense of Santiago Metropolitan Region during 2019–20 riots («Estallido Social» or «Social Outbreak»).[15] Related to this appointment, centrist and far-left online media referred to him as «Tough man», specifically El Dínamo[13] and La Izquierda Diario (troskist);[10] this last one emphasized in his relatives convicted for human rights violations.[10] By the other hand, after Piñera's declaration about «being in war» on 20 October,[18] the next day, he unmarked himself saying he was a happy man and that he wasn't at war with anyone.[19][20] Thus, the public opinion and media would later remember him for that phrase.[21]

On 23 October 2020, participated in the unveiling of the bust of Peruvian Colonel Francisco Bolognesi at Escuela Militar,[22] ceremony that was attended by Jaime Pomareda Montenegro, Ambassador of Peru in Chile.[22] There, according the Government of Peru, «(...) Iturriaga extensively referred to Peruvian hero bravery and his value as a source of inspiration and an example of the fulfillment of duty for young cadets who are studying at (Chilean Army's) Military School».[22] Likewise, Iturriaga highlighted the important place that Colonel Bolognesi's bust will occupy at Plaza Bicentenario, place where there are another figures of other Latin American heroes that adorn it.[22]

On 13 November 2020, President Piñera appointed him as Chief of the Joint Chiefs of Defence.[1][2]

References
  1. "Presidente Piñera designa al General Javier Iturriaga del Campo como nuevo Jefe del Estado Mayor Conjunto". Ministry of Defence. 19 October 2019. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
  2. "Defensa: general Javier Iturriaga asume como jefe del Estado Mayor Conjunto (EMCO)". La Tercera. 20 November 2020. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
  3. "Habla general Iturriaga: "No tenemos información que nos obligue a decretar el toque de queda"" (in Spanish). CNN Chile. 19 October 2019. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
  4. Héctor Muñoz (19 October 2019). "General Javier Iturriaga: "Tenemos la obligación de actuar cuando haya violentistas"" (in Spanish). Radio Futuro. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
  5. "Estado de emergencia en Santiago: La primera declaración del jefe de la Defensa Nacional" (in Spanish). Radio Cooperativa. 19 October 2019. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
  6. "Quién es Javier Iturriaga, el general encargado del estado de emergencia en Chile - PERFIL" (in Spanish). El Comercio (Perú). 19 October 2019. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
  7. "Curfew announced in Chilean capital Santiago amid protests". Reuters. 19 October 2019. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
  8. "Iturriaga". Genealog.cl. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  9. "Oficio N° 82 del 10 de abril de 1974, dirigido al señor Ministro de Justicia Gonzalo Prieto Gandara, en que informa actuaciones de índole política de miembros pro marxistas del poder judicial de Cautín" (PDF). Patricio Aylwin Foundation Archive. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
  10. Valderrama, Alejandra (19 October 2019). "Javier Iturriaga: El hombre duro del ejercito familiar de violadores de DDHH". La Izquierda Diario. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
  11. "Corte de Santiago dicta condena por secuestro calificado de abogado Jaime Eltit Spielmann". AD Prensa. 13 November 2020. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
  12. "Javier Iturriaga Del Campo". Ejército de Chile (in Spanish). Retrieved 3 July 2021.
  13. ""Un hombre duro": quién es el general que estará a cargo de la seguridad de Santiago" (in Spanish). El Dínamo. 19 October 2019. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
  14. "Reapareció el general Iturriaga: Piñera lo nombra como nuevo Jefe del Estado Mayor Conjunto" (in Spanish). El Mostrador. 13 November 2020. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
  15. "¿Por que Piñera optó por Javier Iturriaga y no por el General a cargo de la guarnición militar de Santiago.?". Radio Santiago (in Spanish). 20 October 2019. Retrieved 9 November 2019.
  16. "Con experiencia en los incendios de Santa Olga: ¿quién es Javier Iturriaga, el general a cargo del Estado de Emergencia?" (in Spanish). La Tercera. 19 October 2019. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
  17. Ferrer, Consuelo (19 October 2019). "Una "voz de mando" con "pocas palabras": Quién es Javier Iturriaga, el Jefe de la Defensa Nacional que designó Piñera". El Mercurio. Retrieved 9 November 2019.
  18. "Presidente Piñera: "Estamos en guerra contra un enemigo poderoso"" (in Spanish). T13. 20 October 2020. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
  19. "General Iturriaga: "Soy un hombre feliz, no estoy en guerra con nadie"" (in Spanish). CNN Chile. 21 October 2019. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
  20. "Columna de Diana Aurenque: "Soy un hombre feliz"" (in Spanish). The Clinic. 21 March 2021. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
  21. "El presente de Javier Iturriaga: ¿En que está el general que aseguró no estar en guerra?" (in Spanish). The Clinic. 31 March 2021. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
  22. "Develación de busto del Coronel Francisco Bolognesi en Escuela Militar de Chile". Government of Peru. 23 October 2020. Retrieved 5 July 2021.


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