Department of Public Information • News and Media Division • New York

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has appointed Major General Fernando Rodrigues Goulart of Brazil as Force Commander of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH).

Major General Goulart replaces Major General Luiz Ramos, also of Brazil, who completed his assignment on 27 March.  The Secretary-General appreciates Major General Ramos’ outstanding performance while serving in MINUSTAH, where his dedication, professionalism and leadership were critical to the United Nations stabilization efforts in Haiti.

Major General Goulart joined the Brazilian Army in March 1974 and graduated in December 1980 as an infantry officer.  Since then, Major General Goulart has had a distinguished military career, holding a number of senior command and staff positions.  As a junior officer, he served in the 1st Special Forces Battalion, Brazilian Army’s Airborne Brigade.  As Major and Lieutenant Colonel he was staff officer in the Brazilian Army Staff and in the Cabinet of the Commander of the Army.  In 2004, he took over the command of the 62nd Motorized Infantry Battalion, quick reaction force of the Military Southern Command in Brazil.

In 1993, Major General Goulart performed as United Nations Military Observer in ONUMOZ (United Nations Operation in Mozambique), and in 2007, he was Sector Commander in UNMIN (United Nations Mission in Nepal).  From May 2008 to May 2010, with the rank of Colonel, he worked in the Department of Peacekeeping Operations, as Senior Military Liaison Officer in the Europe and Latin America Division.

Major General Goulart graduated from the Brazilian Army Command and Staff College and also attended the German Armed Forces Command and Staff course.  In 2006, he graduated from the Brazilian Army War College.  After being promoted to the rank of Major General, he commanded the 8th Motorized Infantry Brigade, in Rio Grande do Sul, from 2011 to 2012, his most recent position.

Born in 1958, Major General Goulart is married and has two children.

Sources: UN