Vice Admiral Ignacio Mardones

Vice Admiral Ignacio Mardones is Director of Institutional Relations at AthenaLab, a Chilean think tank dedicated to national security, defence and international relations. He is also a board member of several Chilean companies and a maritime consultant.

He completed a forty-year career in the Chilean Navy in June 2021, culminating in his appointment as National Maritime Authority. In that role, he was responsible for all maritime aspects of the coast guard services and its liaison with related authorities.

As a Rear Admiral, he served as Fleet Commander, with responsibility for fleet management and operations. He also was Commander First Naval Zone, with HQ in Valparaiso, and Director of Naval Education.

Earlier in his career, he saw active service in several ships, commanded the Patrol Cutter CASTOR, fast missile boat URIBE, the frigate BLANCO ENCALADA, and the Tall Ship ESMERALDA for the Bicentennial of the Chilean Republic in 2010.

Between 2011 and 2013, he was Superintendent of the Naval Academy and in 2014 became Director of Communications and Public Relations of the Navy.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in Naval and Maritime Sciences from the Academia Politécnica and a master’s degree from the Academia de Guerra Naval. Vice Admiral Mardones graduated from the United States Naval War College and attended the International Programme of the Naval Command College (class of 2004-2005).