Major General Gilberto Lopes Garcia took office this Thursday as the new Commander of the Madeira Operational Command (COM), in a ceremony held at the unit's facilities. Garcia succeeds Lieutenant General Paulo Lopes da Silva in the role.
The ceremony was attended by the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces (CEMGFA), General João Cartaxo Alves, and the Representative of the Republic for the Region of Madeira, Judge Desembargador Paulo Barreto. General CEMGFA highlighted the importance of following "essential lines of thought for the exercise of command," such as strengthening cohesion, mission rigor, and operational readiness.
"The readiness of the Armed Forces is not improvised; it is built daily with competence, planning, and modernization of capabilities," guaranteed the CEMGFA. The new COM Commander expressed "an enormous sense of honor, responsibility, and commitment," promising to honor the received legacy and continue the guidelines to meet future challenges.
Among Major General Garcia's future objectives, an Artillery officer with an extensive career in the Portuguese Army, are the progressive reinforcement of operational capabilities, the intensification of joint training between the Navy, Army, and Air Force, and consolidating more effective articulation with national, regional, and local structures. Garcia was promoted to Major General in October 2025 and his career is distinguished by over 10 commendations and several decorations.
During the ceremony, the outgoing Commander, Lieutenant General Paulo Lopes da Silva, was awarded the Medal of Distinguished Services, silver degree, in recognition of his work. General CEMGFA praised his "high sense of duty, dedication, and professionalism" in the Autonomous Region of Madeira.
Also present were the Regional Secretary of Health and Civil Protection, Micaela Freitas, and the vice-president of the Funchal Municipal Council, Carlos Rodrigues. The COM is responsible for the planning, joint operational training, and operational deployment of forces assigned to the Autonomous Region of Madeira.
