Osvaldo Sarabia
Osvaldo Sarabia Vilches (born 14 January 1952) is a retired Chilean Air Force officer who served as Commander-in-Chief of the Chilean Air Force (FACh) from 2002 to 2006. Before assuming command of the service, he served as Chief of the National Defence General Staff.
Early life and education
Sarabia was born in Santiago, Chile, on 14 January 1952. He graduated as an officer of the Chilean Air Force on 1 January 1971. In 1985, he qualified as a staff officer at the Air War Academy.
His professional education included qualifications in aeronautical systems engineering and a master's degree in Military Administration Sciences. He also obtained a master's degree in Human Resources Management from Gabriela Mistral University.
Sarabia trained as a military pilot and flew several aircraft types during his career, including the T-34, T-35, T-37, Hawker Hunter, Northrop F-5 and Mirage 50.
Air Force career
After receiving his commission in 1971, Sarabia was assigned to Quintero Air Base. The following year he served with Aviation Group No. 12, and in 1973 was posted to Aviation Group No. 9, where he remained until 1978.
In 1979, he was assigned to the Personnel Command and undertook a professional mission in France. He subsequently served with Aviation Group No. 4. After completing the staff course at the Air War Academy in 1985, he was assigned to another overseas commission in Brazil in 1987.
In 1988, Sarabia became an instructor at the Air War Academy. The following year he was assigned to the Commander-in-Chief's office as an aide-de-camp. In 1990, he was appointed commander of Aviation Group No. 4.
During the 1990s, he held appointments in the Inspectorate General, the Air Force General Staff and the Logistics Command. In 1996, he became director of the Aeronautical Polytechnic Academy, and in 1998 he served with the Air Mission in the United States.
In 2000, Sarabia was appointed commander of the IV Air Brigade. The following year he served as director of operations and Inspector General of the Air Force. On 28 December 2001, with the rank of Aviation General, he became Chief of the National Defence General Staff.
Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force
In October 2002, President Ricardo Lagos designated Sarabia as the next Commander-in-Chief of the Chilean Air Force. He formally assumed command on 5 November 2002, succeeding General Patricio Ríos Ponce, and was promoted to General of the Air.
During his tenure, the Air Force received its first F-16 fighter aircraft, which were assigned to Aviation Group No. 3 at Iquique. The aircraft became a central element of the service's long-term combat system.
Sarabia also promoted professional training within the institution and proposed increasing English-language proficiency among Air Force personnel. His command additionally oversaw the deployment of the first Chilean Air Force personnel and helicopters to Haiti as part of the United Nations Stabilisation Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH).
In 2006, President Michelle Bachelet appointed General Ricardo Ortega Perrier to succeed him. Sarabia transferred command on 3 November 2006 after completing his four-year term.
Later career
After retiring from active service, Sarabia remained involved in the Chilean aerospace sector. He later served as director of the Academy of Aeronautical Sciences at Federico Santa María Technical University, where he participated in academic programmes related to aviation and the national aerospace system.