Admiral Guillermo Enrique Barrera-Hurtado (Retired) served the Colombian Navy for almost 40 years. Admiral Barrera’s service on board naval ships include tours on Destroyer Escort “Boyacá”, Destroyer “Santander”, Destroyer “7 de Agosto”, Missile Frigate “Caldas” and Missile Frigate “Almirante Padilla”. He commanded Riverine Patrol Boat “Fritz Hagale”, Buoy Tender “Gorgona” and Missile Frigate “Almirante Padilla”.
His assignments as Flag Officer were: Commander of the Colombian Navy, Chief of Operations of the Navy, Commander Caribbean Naval Forces, and Chief of Integrated Action (J5) at the Joint Command of the Colombian Military Forces. In this position he executed the transformation of the department from Psychological Operations to Integrated Action, and prepared the final version of the Strategy of Integrated Action for the Military Forces.
As Operational Commander and Commander of the Navy during the government of President Alvaro Uribe, he was part of the governmental team that transformed Colombia from the brink of failure to stability and democracy, with a people-centric approach.
Admiral Barrera has a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Naval Sciences, both from the Colombian Naval Academy. He holds a Master of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School, and he is a graduate of the Naval Command College, class of 1993 at the US Naval War College. Admiral Barrera is a “Distinguished International Fellow” at the U. S. Naval War College, where he teaches an elective in Political Warfare, works for Joint Military Operations, Strategy and Policy, Leadership and War gaming.
