Ramón Alonso Carrizales Rengifo (born 8 November 1952) is a
Venezuela
Venezuela (; ), officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela ( es, link=no, República Bolivariana de Venezuela), is a country on the northern coast of South America, consisting of a continental landmass and many islands and islets in th ...
n politician who was the
vice president of Venezuela
The vice president of Venezuela ( es, Vicepresidente de Venezuela), officially known as the Executive Vice President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela ( es, Vicepresidente Ejecutivo de la República Bolivariana de Venezuela), is the second ...
from January 2008 to January 2010. Carrizales was a
Colonel
Colonel (abbreviated as Col., Col or COL) is a senior military officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations.
In the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, a colonel was typically in charge of ...
of the
Venezuelan Armed Forces
The National Bolivarian Armed Forces ( es, Fuerza Armada Nacional Bolivariana - FANB) of Venezuela are controlled by the Commander-in-Chief (the President) and a civilian Minister of Defense. In addition to the army, navy, and air force there ...
(retired in 1994) and was educated at the
Venezuelan Academy of Military Sciences
The Bolivarian Military University of Venezuela (in Spanish ''Universidad Militar Bolivariana de Venezuela''. The Military Bolivarian University of Venezuela (UMBV), is a National Experimental University of Venezuela, which operates under the mil ...
, where he graduated in 1974.
He was appointed vice president by
President
President most commonly refers to:
*President (corporate title)
*President (education), a leader of a college or university
*President (government title)
President may also refer to:
Automobiles
* Nissan President, a 1966–2010 Japanese ful ...
Hugo Chávez
Hugo Rafael Chávez Frías (; 28 July 1954 – 5 March 2013) was a Venezuelan politician who was president of Venezuela from 1999 until his death in 2013, except for a brief period in 2002. Chávez was also leader of the Fifth Republ ...
in January 2008 after previously serving as chair of the ''Fondo Nacional de Transporte Urbano (Fontur)'' from 2000 to 2004, Infrastructure Minister 2004 to 2006, and Housing Minister from 2007 to 2008.
In 2009, Chavez appointed Carrizales to also serve as the
Minister of Defense
A defence minister or minister of defence is a cabinet official position in charge of a ministry of defense, whic