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General LUIS H. DE LEÓN

General Luis Heber De León Pepelescov was born on June 26, 1965, in the department of Maldonado.


He began his Military Career at the Military School No. 4 “Gral. Juan Antonio Lavalleja” on February 1, 1981, attending the third and fourth year of high school; being awarded as National Flag in that period. Then on February 1, 1983, he entered the Air Force Military Academy; being awarded as National Flag in 1985; graduating as Ensign Aviator on December 20, 1986, having completed the Flight Courses in Cessna T-41 D aircraft (Mescalero) and Beechcraft T-34B aircraft (Mentor). In January 1987, he went on to serve in the Air Brigade No. II, where he took the Advanced Flight Course in Beechcraft T-34B (Mentor) aircraft and synthetic instrument flight trainer "GAT I". In February 1989, he was assigned to the Air Brigade No. 1 in the Aviation Group No. 3 (Transport), taking the course in CASA C-212 series 200 aircraft (Aviocar).


From 1990 to 1992, he served as Technical Maintenance Officer in the Aviation Group No. 3 (Transportation). Carrying out the Instrument Flight Course in the "Frasca" synthetic trainer, at the Aeronautical Training Institute. In 1991, it began its activity in Antarctic operations, carrying out operations in that year with CASA C-212 series 200 aircraft (Aviocar). In 1992, he took the Elementary Command Course at the Air Command and Staff School. In 1995, he took the AVSEC (Aviation Security) course in the city of Ocklahoma, United States, at the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration), going on to serve the Ground Security Brigade as an Airport Security Technician until the year 1994. In 1994, he acquired the qualification as an Instructor Pilot for aircraft C-212 (Aviocar).


In 1996, he was assigned to the Air Brigade No. 1, in the Aviation Squadron No. 3 (Transport) as a Maintenance and Supply Technician.


In 1997, he was appointed to attend the Republic of Chile for the recovery of a C-212-200 aircraft, at the ENAER Factory.


He is appointed in 1999 to attend the Kingdom of Spain to fly for the Spanish Customs, in C-212-200 aircraft. In 1999, he was appointed as head of mission in the Republic of Chile in the technical representation of the inspection of a C-130 (Hercules) aircraft, at the ENAER Factory.


In 2002, he reaches the rank of Major, and took the Basic Command Course and the Air Staff Course at the Air Command and Staff School. Then he was appointed to serve in the Acquisitions Department as Head of the Aeronautical Acquisitions Department. In 2005, he is appointed to serve in the Maintenance Service as Head of the Personnel Administration Department. In 2006 he reaches the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, he completed the Superior Command Course at the Air Command and Staff School. Being designated as Head of the Technical Division of the Maintenance Service. Carrying out the Dangerous Cargo Course dictated by the State Insurance Bank. In 2008, he was appointed to serve the Air Brigade No. 1 as Commander of the Air Squadron No. 3 (Transport), starting to fly C-130 B (Hercules) aircraft. In 2008, he was designated for the planning and deployment of a C-212-200 aircraft to be deployed in the Republic of Haiti. In 2010 he is appointed as Head of mission to carry out the Ferry transport of the C-212-200 MP Aircraft from the Kingdom of Sweden to the Republic of Uruguay.


He is promoted to the rank of Colonel in 2011. In 2011, he acquired the qualification of Instructor Pilot for aircraft C-130 B (Hercules). In March 2011 he is appointed to serve in the General Staff as Division Chief and Director of Uruguayan Military Air Transport. In 2011 he was appointed advisor to the Uruguayan Antarctic Institute and Director of the Directorate of Plans and Operations of the institute. In 2012 he was appointed deputy chief of the General Staff for Operations. In 2014 he was appointed Commander of the Air Brigade No. III. In 2015 he was appointed Commander of the Air Brigade No. II.


In 2016, he was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General (Av.), being appointed Commander of the Personnel Air Command. As a military aviator, he has accumulated more than 4,700 flights to date, holding the Commander Pilot Wings. He is a transport aircraft instructor. At the same time, he has taught for more than fifteen years at the Air Command and Staff School in the subjects of Air Transport, Logistics and Staff Instructor. He has worked as an instructor at the Uruguayan Antarctic Institute to date, in Antarctic Operations, development of Antarctic Logistics Policies and pre-Antarctic courses for the crews of bases and shelters. He was appointed to advise on the guidelines of Antarctic objectives and policies within the framework of the Defense Policy Law. He served as a representative of the Antarctic Institute in the COMNAP "Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programs" between 2011 and 2014. Attending the city of Portland (USA), the city of Seoul (Republic of Korea) and the city of Christchurch (New Zealand). He continues as advisor to the Air Force at the Uruguayan Antarctic Institute.


It holds the distinction of the Antarctic Campaigns granted by the Uruguayan Antarctic Institute since 1992. He is a member of the Air Force Officer Qualifying Commission. He carried out several aerial campaigns on flights for the UN, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He is qualified in technical English with ICAO Operational rating 5. In March 2018 he is appointed as Commander of the Logistics Air Command.


In 2020, he was promoted to the rank of Air General, being appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Uruguayan Air Force.


He is married to Mrs. María Basilia Calatayud Silveira, and has two children, Juan Manuel and María Sara.