Captain Marcelo Luis Fernandez

Captain Marcelo Luis Fernandez was born on April 5, 1966 and he is a native of the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires. He graduated from the Escuela Naval Militar (Military Naval School) in 1988 and he is a surface warfare officer. He holds a Bachelor degree in Naval Systems, specialized in Communications from the Instituto Universitario Naval (Naval College). He is also a graduate from the Escuela de Guerra Naval (Naval War College - Naval Command and General Staff Course). Abroad, he got a Master degree in Naval Strategy from the Escuela Superior de Guerra Naval de Venezuela (Venezuelan Naval War College) and he graduated from the Escuela Superior de Guerra Conjunta de Venezuela (Venezuelan Joint War College - Joint Command and General Staff Course).

At sea, Captain Fernandez served as Commanding Officer of Corvette ARA “Drummond” and of Supply Ship ARA “Teniente Olivieri”; Executive Officer aboard of Destroyer ARA “Heroína” and of Cargo Ship ARA “Canal Beagle”; Operations Officer, CIC Officer, EW Officer and Training Officer aboard of Destroyer ARA “La Argentina” (different years); CIC Officer and Communications Officer aboard Corvette ARA “Espora”; Navigator aboard Corvette ARA “Rosales”; Admin Officer aboard Cargo Ship ARA “Bahía San Blas”; instructor and Midshipmen boss aboard the training vessel Frigate ARA “Libertad” (tall ship). He also served in the Antarctica aboard of ARA “Bahía San Blas” and Icebreaker ARA “Almirante Irizar”. He participated in different international exercises (UNITAS, FRATERNO, ARAEX, PANAMAX). He also navigated on board USS “Arthur W. Radford”, USS “Hayler” and USS “Yorktown” (in US), MB “Dodsworth” (in Brazil) and HMS “Illustrious” (in UK).

Ashore, Captain Fernandez served as Chief of Staff, Director of Operations, Director of Evaluation and Support to Operational Readiness for the Comando de la Flota de Mar (Sea Fleet Command) (different years); Chief of Staff for the Área Naval Atlántica (Atlantic Naval Area); Executive Officer of the Apostadero Naval Buenos Aires (Buenos Aires Naval Facilities); Communications Officer for the Comando de Operaciones Navales (Naval Operations Command); Plans and Regulations Officer for Dirección General de Personal de la Armada (Navy Personnel General Direction); Head of Corps of future NCO´s for the Escuela de Suboficiales de la Armada (NCO´s School); Assistant to the Comandante de Operaciones Navales (Naval Operations Commander); Liaison Officer to US Southern Command.

In 1998 Captain Fernandez was recognized by the Honorable Chamber of Senators for the task carried out with the shipwreck of the Fishing Vessel "ALTAIR". He was awarded with the “Honor to Naval Merit” by the Escuela Superior de Guerra Naval de Venezuela in 2008. In April 2019 he received the award of the “Joint Service Commendation Medal” from US Southern Command.

Captain Marcelo Fernandez is currently the Área Naval Atlántica (Atlantic Naval Area) Commander.