José R. Bonilla

José Ramón Bonilla Irigoyen (born October 27, 1951) is a retired Uruguayan General of the Air who served as the 14th Commander-in-Chief of the Uruguayan Air Force between February 2009 and October 2010. In 2010, he was appointed to inaugurate the position of Chief of the Defense Staff, and in 2013, as Coordinator of the State Intelligence Services. From there Bonilla established a close relationship with José Mujica, who had been a Tupamaro guerrilla fighter, and to whom Bonilla returned a captured flag of his former organization, which was once an enemy of the Air Force. Mujica, who was moved when receiving the flag, that was inside a wooden and glass receptacle, with an inscription that said: "The Uruguayan Air Force to President Mr. José Mujica.", believes that it was seized by the military during the guerrilla occupation of the city of Pando, on October 8, 1969.

Early life José Bonilla was born on October 27, 1951, in Melo, Cerro Largo Department, Uruguay. He completed his primary studies at the José Pedro Varela Public School in Maldonado Department and his secondary education at the Maldonado Departmental High School. After completing his studies, he joined the Uruguayan Air Force via the Military School of Aeronautics on March 20, 1970, graduating as Alférez (Ensign) and Piloto Aviador Militar (Military Aviator Pilot) on December 21, 1973.

Military career Uruguayan Air Force Lieutenant Manuel Atorro briefs Lieutenant Michael Tutt of the 24th Tactical Air Support Squadron (24th TASS) of the United States Air Force on the North American T-6G Texan aircraft, aircraft that was flown by José Bonilla when he was assigned to Air Brigade II in Santa Bernardina, Durazno, prior to flight. José Bonilla completed his primary flight training flying Cessna T-41D Mescalero. After his graduation, in 1974 he was sent to Air Brigade II in Santa Bernardina, Durazno Department, where he completed the Uruguayan Air Force Advanced Flight Course, flying North American T-6 Texan. Then, in 1975, he was appointed Acquisitions Officer of that Brigade, while also completing the Instructor Pilot Course, becoming a T-6 flight instructor, assigned to Aviation Group No. 1 (Instruction and Training). He also qualified as Piloto Principal (Principal Pilot) in Cessna U-17A Skywagon and Piper L-21 Super Cub.

As an Uruguayan Air Force Pilot, José Bonilla has accumulated approximately 2350 flight hours. He flew 6 different models of aircraft, holding the Uruguayan Air Force Piloto Comandante (Command Pilot) Wings.

Personal life José Bonilla has stood out as an athlete in soccer, tennis and paddle ball. He is married to Mrs. Gabriela Rodríguez and has four children, Joaquín, Felipe, Rodrigo and Jimena.

Flight Information Rating: Command Pilot.

Flight Hours: 2350.