Javier Palacios

Javier Palacios Ruhmann (1925 – 25 June 2006) was a Chilean military officer who reached the rank of brigadier general. He held command, instructional and administrative positions throughout his career in the Chilean Army.^[1]

Palacios graduated from the Chilean Military School and began his service in 1941 with a posting to the garrison in Punta Arenas. He later served as an instructor at the Army War Academy and held assignments in several units. In 1963 he completed a commission at Fort Benning in the United States.

He subsequently served as secretary aide to the Minister of Defense, commander of Infantry Regiment No. 2 “Maipo” in Valparaíso, and military attaché at the Chilean Embassy in Bonn, posts he held until 1972. That same year he became director of Army Intelligence and Military Institutes.^[2]

Palacios retired from active service in 1977. He later resided in Viña del Mar with his family. He died on 25 June 2006.^[1]

On 10 September 1973 Palacios received instructions to assume command of Armored Regiment No. 2, tasked with operations in the central government district in Santiago.^[2] On 11 September he led military units that entered the presidential palace, where he reported the situation to the high command through the established communication channels.^[1]

Following these events, Palacios held administrative responsibilities within state institutions. From March 1974 to April 1975 he served as Executive Vice President of the Production Development Corporation (CORFO).^[3]

Subsequently he was appointed presidential delegate to the State Insurance Institute in 1981, and later became CORFO’s general manager in New York, a position he held between 1982 and 1987.