Admiral (Retd.) Henrique Gouveia e Melo

Chief of Staff of the Navy Portuguese Navy

Admiral Henrique Eduardo Passaláqua de Gouveia e Melo was born in Quelimane, Mozambique, on November 21, 1960. He entered the Naval Academy on September 7, 1979, as a Cadet in the "Carvalho Araújo" course and, on September 19, 1983, was promoted to Ensign. He joined the Submarine Squadron in September 1985 and, until 1992, sailed on the submarines Albacora, Barracuda, and Delfim, performing various operational duties as a crew officer. He served as Executive Officer on the submarines Albacora and Barracuda. At sea, he commanded the submarines Delfim and Barracuda and the frigate NRP Vasco da Gama. Following the death of the Commander of the submarine NRP Tridente, he was responsible on board for the trials, tests, and operations during the one-year warranty period after the ship's delivery to Portugal.

Throughout his career he attended several courses, notably specializing in Communications and Electronic Warfare, the "International Diesel Electric Submarine Tracking Course" in Norfolk, United States, the General Naval Warfare Course, a postgraduate degree in "Information Warfare" at the Independent University, the Complementary Naval Warfare Course, and the General Officer Promotion Course at the Institute of Higher Military Studies. Between 1998 and 2002, he led the Training and Evaluation Service of the Submarine Squadron and the General Staff of the National Authority for the Control of Submarine Operations (SUBOPAUTH), later assuming command of that squadron.

He served as Head of the Information and Public Relations Service of the Office of the Admiral Chief of Staff of the Navy, 2nd Commander of the Ship Flotilla, Director of Lighthouses, Director of the Institute for the Rescue of Shipwrecked Persons, Chief of Staff of the Admiral Chief of Staff of the Navy, and 2nd Naval Commander. From January 12, 2017 to January 14, 2020, he served as Naval Commander, and for two years during that same period, from September 19, 2017 to September 19, 2019, he served as Commander of EUROMARFOR. On January 17, 2020, he took office as Deputy for Planning and Coordination of the General Staff of the Armed Forces. He held this position until taking office as Chief of the Naval Staff. During his tenure in this role, he was also appointed, on February 3, 2021, coordinator of the Task Force for Vaccination against Covid-19.

He took office as Chief of Staff of the Navy and National Maritime Authority on December 27, 2021, the date on which he was promoted to admiral. Throughout his career, Admiral Gouveia e Melo was distinguished with several decorations, most notably the Military Order of Avis – Commander's Grade, eight Military Medals for Distinguished Service (three gold and five silver), the Military Merit Medal of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Class, the National Defense Medal of the 1st Class, the Naval Cross Military Medal of the 3rd Class, the Military Medal for Exemplary Conduct – gold, the commemorative medal for Operation "Sharp Guard" within the North Atlantic Treaty (NATO), and more recently, the Order of Maritime Merit from the French Navy and the Medal of the Order of Naval Merit – Grand Officer Grade, from the Brazilian Navy.