Carlos Humberto Romero

Carlos Humberto Romero Mena (29 February 1924 – 27 February 2017) was a Salvadoran general and politician who served as President of El Salvador from 1 July 1977 until his overthrow on 15 October 1979. Romero was the final president of the El Salvador's military dictatorship that had ruled since 1931.

Early life

Carlos Humberto Romero Mena was born on 29 February 1924 in Chalatenango, El Salvador. His parents were José María Romero (who died prior to Romero's birth) and Victoria Mena de Romero.

Military career

Romero studied at the Captain General Gerardo Barrios Military School and the Command and General Staff School. Romero also traveled to Mexico City to specialize in horse riding. From January to March 1962, Romero attended the School of the Americas in the Panama Canal Zone to study counter-insurgency tactics. During the 1960s, Romero worked as an intelligence officer. Romero did not fight on the frontlines of the 1969 Football War against Honduras.

During his military service, Romero held various command positions over the Cavalry Group and the First Infantry Regiment. He also served as the assistant to the military attaché to the Salvadoran embassy to Mexico, the director of the Weapons and Services School, the head of Personnel of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, the chief of staff of the Armed Forces General Command. Romero attended the inaugurations of Mexican president Gustavo Díaz Ordaz in 1964 and Colombian president Misael Pastrana Borrero in 1970 as a delegate of the Salvadoran government. He also served as a delegate to the 7th Conference of American Armies in 1966 and the 6th Conference of American Intelligence Officers in 1967. In 1973, Romero served as the president of the Central American Defense Council.