Pedro Arnulfo Sánchez

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Sánchez and the second or maternal family name is Suárez.

Pedro Arnulfo Sánchez
Sánchez in March 2025.
Minister of National Defense
Incumbent
Assumed office March 3, 2025
President	Gustavo Petro
Preceded by	Iván Velásquez Gómez
Head of Security at the Casa de Nariño
In office January 15, 2025 – March 3, 2025
President	Gustavo Petro
Preceded by	Carlos Feria
Succeeded by	Luis Bermúdez
Personal details
Born	Pedro Arnulfo Sánchez Suárez (1972-07-06) July 6, 1972 Boavita, Boyacá, Colombia
Political party	Independent
Spouse	Carmen Alicia Mera ​ (m. 2006)​
Website	Official website
Military service
Branch/service	Colombian Air Force
Years of service	1993–2025
Rank	Major General
Unit	Air Combat Command No. 4 Air and Space Doctrine Center
Battles/wars	Colombian conflict
Awards	Cross of the Order of Boyacá Order of Military Merit Antonio Nariño

Pedro Arnulfo Sánchez Suárez (born July 6, 1972) is a Colombian academic, business administrator, politician, and former Colombian Aerospace Force officer who has served as Minister of National Defense since March 2025.

Life and career

Sánchez was born in Boavita, Boyacá, Colombia on July 6, 1972. In March 2025, President Gustavo Petro appointed him as Minister of National Defense, succeeding Iván Velásquez. He was the first retired military officer to serve as Minister of National Defense in 34 years.

Notes

References

• Cifuentes Quintero, Santiago (March 4, 2025). "Pedro Arnulfo Sánchez Suárez asumió oficialmente como ministro de Defensa de Colombia" [Pedro Arnulfo Sánchez Suárez officially served as Minister of Defense of Colombia]. Infobae. Retrieved March 5, 2025.
• Saumeth, Erich (February 24, 2025). "Pedro Sánchez, de brigadier general a nuevo ministro de Defensa colombiano" [Pedro Sánchez, from brigadier general to Colombia's new defense minister]. Info Defensa. Retrieved February 26, 2025.
• Baquero Monroy, Jorge Andrés (March 2, 2025). "El país que recibe el nuevo ministro de Defensa" [The country that receives the new Minister of Defense]. Razón Pública. Retrieved March 4, 2025.
• "El nuevo ministro de Defensa promete recuperar control territorial en una convulsa Colombia" [The new defense minister promises to regain territorial control in a troubled Colombia]. Voz de América. March 11, 2025. Retrieved March 14, 2025.
• Ramos, Fernando (February 19, 2025). "Petro nombra a militar activo como nuevo ministro de Defensa de Colombia" [Petro appoints active military officer as Colombia's new defense minister]. CNN en Español. Retrieved February 20, 2025.
• "Pedro Sánchez es nombrado oficialmente como el nuevo ministro de Defensa" [Pedro Sánchez is officially appointed as the new Minister of Defense]. El Espectador. March 4, 2025. Retrieved March 6, 2025.
• González Duarte, María Alejandra; García Agudelo, Mateo (February 19, 2025). "Las reacciones sobre el nombramiento del general Pedro Sánchez como nuevo ministro de Defensa" [Reactions to the appointment of General Pedro Sánchez as the new Minister of Defense]. El Tiempo. Retrieved February 24, 2025.
• Gómez, Andrea (February 21, 2025). "Quién es Pedro Sánchez, ministro de Defensa designado de Colombia y por qué su nombramiento causó polémica" [Who is Pedro Sánchez, Colombia's designated defense minister, and why his appointment caused controversy?]. CNN en Español. Retrieved February 23, 2025.
• "Perfil: ¿quién es el brigadier general Pedro Sánchez, el próximo ministro de Defensa?" [Profile: Who is Brigadier General Pedro Sánchez, the next Minister of Defense?]. Cambio Colombia. February 19, 2025. Retrieved February 20, 2025.
• Rodríguez Álvarez, Santiago (February 20, 2025). "Un general en Mindefensa:Petro rompé 34 años de tradición civil y militar" [A general in the Ministry of Defense: Petro breaks 34 years of civil and military tradition]. La Silla Vacía. Retrieved February 25, 2025.
• Donado Henríquez, Isabella (February 21, 2025). "Entrante ministro Defensa, Pedro Sánchez, dijo que fortalecerá la contrainteligencia" [Incoming Defense Minister Pedro Sánchez said he will strengthen counterintelligence]. La República. Retrieved February 22, 2025.
• González Duarte, María Alejandra (January 27, 2025). "Movimientos en Casa de Nariño: Jorge Rojas será oficialmente director del Dapre y el general Sánchez el nuevo jefe de seguridad" [Changes in the Casa de Nariño: Jorge Rojas will officially be the director of the Dapre and General Sánchez will be the new head of security]. El Tiempo. Retrieved February 2, 2025.
• Rodríguez, José David (January 15, 2025). "General Pedro Sánchez, de la Fuerza Aeroespacial, sería nuevo jefe de seguridad de la Presidencia" [General Pedro Sánchez, of the Aerospace Force, would be the new head of security for the Presidency.]. W Radio. Retrieved January 16, 2025.