António Gonçalves Ribeiro

António Gonçalves Ribeiro was born in Castelo Branco on January 30, 1933. Married to Maria de Lourdes de Paiva Morão Ribeiro, they have four children and eight grandchildren. He served three military tours abroad. After his last tour, in Angola, with the rank of lieutenant colonel, he was appointed Secretary-General of the High Commission until November 10, 1975. He coordinated and promoted the Air and Maritime Bridge, which ensured that Portuguese citizens residing in Angola could return to Portugal with some of their belongings. High Commissioner for Displaced Persons, between September 1976 and August 1979. Minister of Internal Administration from August 1978 to August 1979.
National Military Representative to SHAPE/NATO in Mons, Belgium. Promoted to general, he was the first Director-General of the newly created General Directorate of National Defense Policy, a position he held from July 1989 to December 2000. Author of three books: The Vertigo of Decolonization, 2003; The Reunion, 2006; The Greatness and Misery of the Empire2021. 34 commendations were recorded, including one from the President of the Republic, 5 from Ministers of Defense and 2 from High Commissioners in Angola. Among the various national and foreign decorations, noteworthy are the Grand Cross of the Order of Christ, 2 gold medals for Distinguished Service and 1 silver medal for Distinguished Service, with palm.