Interim Venezuelan President Delcy Rodríguez has dismissed Major General José Adelino Ornelas Ferreira from his post as Secretary General of the National Defense Council (Secodena), an entity crucial to intelligence and strategic analysis within the Venezuelan civil-military power structure.
The decision was made official through Resolution 1302, dated August 11, and signed by Defense Minister General-in-Chief Gustavo Enrique González López, following Rodríguez's direct orders, as reported by Infobae.
Major General Jesús Rafael Villamizar Gómez has been appointed as the new Secretary General of Secodena, with his term running until June 30, 2027.
Ornelas Ferreira's removal marks the end of an era, closing eight years of service by one of the last officers from Hugo Chávez's inner circle in a pivotal state position.
His most notable role was as commander of the Presidential Honor Guard from 2011 to 2013, a position that placed him by Chávez's side during his illness, trips to Cuba for medical treatment, and subsequent passing on March 5, 2013.
Ornelas Ferreira publicly recounted Chávez's final moments, recalling that when the former president could no longer speak, he mouthed the words: "I don't want to die, please don't let me die."
The general was a member of the "Febreristas," officers linked to the February 4, 1992, coup attempt led by Chávez against President Carlos Andrés Pérez, forming the backbone of the Chavista military apparatus for over two decades.
His career reflects a steady rise in positions where political loyalty, military command, and sensitive information converged: Chief of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from 2017 to 2019, Deputy Commander of the Strategic Operational Command, Deputy Minister of Government Management Monitoring and Inspection, and, since September 2020, Chief of the General Staff of the Commander-in-Chief of the National Armed Forces.
In November 2019, the U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned him for using excessive force against protesters and journalists, a move that followed similar sanctions by Canada and the European Union.
Ornelas's ousting is part of the systematic military restructuring Rodríguez has pursued since taking over the presidency after Nicolás Maduro's capture by U.S. forces on January 3, 2026.
During this period, the Venezuelan government enacted 28 changes within the military's top ranks in January, removed Vladimir Padrino López as Defense Minister in March, promoted 168 senior officers, altered six of the eight Strategic Defense Regions in July, and retired 110 generals and admirals in August.
The departure of Ornelas Ferreira signifies the severance of one of the last direct links to the military core that stood by Chávez until his death, amid a deep restructuring of the high command that Rodríguez has hastened in recent months to solidify her grip over the Armed Forces.
Key Changes in Venezuela's Military Leadership
Why was José Adelino Ornelas Ferreira removed from his position?
Ornelas Ferreira was removed as part of a broader effort by Delcy Rodríguez to restructure the military and solidify control over Venezuela's Armed Forces.
Who has replaced Ornelas Ferreira as Secretary General of Secodena?
Major General Jesús Rafael Villamizar Gómez has been appointed as the new Secretary General of Secodena.
What was Ornelas Ferreira's role during Hugo Chávez's final days?
Ornelas Ferreira was the commander of the Presidential Honor Guard, accompanying Chávez during his illness, treatments in Cuba, and eventual death in 2013.