Javier Palacios

Javier Palacios Ruhmann was a Chilean military officer who reached the rank of brigadier general. He held command, instructional and administrative positions throughout his career in the Chilean Army.

Biography

Palacios graduated from the Chilean Military School and began his service in 1941 with a posting to the garrison in Punta Arenas. He later served as an instructor at the Army War Academy and held assignments in several units. In 1963 he completed a commission at Fort Benning in the United States.
He subsequently served as secretary aide to the Minister of Defense, commander of Infantry Regiment No. 2 “Maipo” in Valparaíso, and military attaché at the Chilean Embassy in Bonn, posts he held until 1972. That same year he became director of Army Intelligence and Military Institutes.
Palacios retired from active service in 1977. He later resided in Viña del Mar with his family. He died on 25 June 2006.

Public career

On 10 September 1973 Palacios received instructions to assume command of Armored Regiment No. 2, tasked with operations in the central government district in Santiago. On 11 September he led military units that entered the presidential palace, where he reported the situation to the high command through the established communication channels.
Following these events, Palacios held administrative responsibilities within state institutions. From March 1974 to April 1975 he served as Executive Vice President of the Production Development Corporation.
Subsequently he was appointed presidential delegate to the State Insurance Institute in 1981, and later became CORFO’s general manager in New York, a position he held between 1982 and 1987.