El director general, Leonardo Marcos, en la toma de posesión de la jefa de Comandancia de Cuenca

Leonardo Marcos presided this morning over the ceremony held to mark the swearing-in of Lieutenant Colonel María Jesús Pascual as the new head of the Cuenca Command. Also in attendance were the Government Delegate in Castilla-La Mancha, Francisco Tierraseca; the Mayor of Cuenca, Darío Francisco Dolz; the Vice President of the Regional Government of Castilla-La Mancha, José Luis Martínez Guijarro; the Deputy Government Delegate in Cuenca, María Luz Fernández; and the Deputy Government Delegate in Cáceres, José Antonio García. June 16, 2023. The Director General of the Civil Guard, Leonardo Marcos, presided this morning over the ceremony held to mark the swearing-in of Lieutenant Colonel María Jesús Pascual as the new head of the Cuenca Command. Lieutenant Colonel Pascual succeeds Colonel Montes, who has held the position for the last nine years. The Director General began his remarks by expressing his great satisfaction at being able to accompany Lieutenant Colonel María Jesús Pascual Ruiz at her swearing-in ceremony as head of the Cuenca Command, following her recent appointment as Director General of the Civil Guard. Leonardo Marcos emphasized that she is the third woman to assume command of a Civil Guard Command. He added, "I hope her example becomes a role model for all women, because it will undoubtedly help more and more of them feel the desire to join the Civil Guard and, one day, achieve the same accomplishments as our Lieutenant Colonel." In this regard, he stated that the Lieutenant Colonel assumes the responsibility that comes with commanding this Command, publicly reaffirming her firm commitment to the public, a commitment renewed after 20 years of service in the Corps since graduating as a Lieutenant from the Officers' Academy. Regarding her experience, he highlighted that the Lieutenant Colonel has worked in different territorial units over the past 20 years, progressing through various command levels and subsequently, throughout her tenure as Commander, in the Cáceres Command, where she served as acting commander for extended periods. The Director General stated that commanding a Civil Guard Command requires a set of values ​​and demonstrates strong leadership skills. In this regard, he said that the Lieutenant Colonel faces a significant challenge, as she has under her command a force of 600 men and women, distributed across 46 barracks serving one of the largest provinces in Spain. Leonardo Marcos also highlighted the Civil Guard's decisive contribution to forging a national bond, reinforcing the principle of state unity, facilitating its cohesion, and helping to address the demographic challenge facing Spain, a challenge perfectly exemplified by the province of Cuenca. It is precisely in this area—security in Spain facing the demographic challenge—that the Civil Guard has established one of the key elements of its Strategic Plan, launching the "Security Action Plan to Address the Demographic Challenge." This plan focuses on meeting the security needs in these regions of Spain, where the institution carries out a large part of its duties and where it stands as the leading security force. With this plan, we aim to strengthen our connection to and integration within the territory, enhancing our service to the public by utilizing new technologies and mobile platforms. For all of this, the fundamental element is essential: the human capital of the Civil Guard, our officers. He also addressed the Civil Guard officers of the Cuenca Command to thank them for their daily work, dedication, and perseverance. "You, men and women who belong to this esteemed institution, embody the values ​​that constitute the soul of the Civil Guard: the spirit of service, sacrifice, loyalty, honor, and a vocation for service, making yourselves role models for society, which reciprocates with its appreciation and respect." Finally, the Director General wished Lieutenant Colonel María Jesús every success in this new endeavor.