Maj. Gen. Román Carmona Landa takes the oath to become the Mexican Air Force’s new commander on June 1, 2025, in Mexico City. GOVERNMENT OF MEXICO
At a June 1, 2025, ceremony at the historic Glorieta de las Àguilas of the Military Camp No. 1-A “Gen. Àlvaro Obregón” in Mexico City, Maj. Gen. Pilot Aviator of the General Staff Román Carmona Landa donned a ceremonial sash in symbolic preparation for his new role: commander of the Mexican Air Force (FAM). He then took the oath of office, administered by the Chief of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the Ministry of National Defense, Maj. Gen. Arturo Coronel Flores. Carmona Landa replaced Gen. Óscar René Rubio Sánchez, who had been the FAM chief since President Claudia Sheinbaum took office in October 2024. FAM is overseen by DEFENSA and forms part of the Mexican Army. FAM has 325 units in its inventory, spread over transport, fighter jets and helicopters.
Carmona Landa graduated from the Military Aviation School of FAM’s Air College. He holds master’s degrees in military administration for national security and defense (National Defense College), and administration with a specialty in senior management (Autonomous University of Guadalajara). He also earned a bachelor’s degree in military administration at the War College.
Carmona Landa has held a variety of important posts. He served as commander of the Comprehensive Air Surveillance System of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the National Defense (now the National Center for Airspace Surveillance and Protection) and as commander of the Southeast and Central Air Regions, which include large swaths of the country, including the capital. Carmona Landa also has spent time in the United States. He was the deputy military and air attaché at the Mexican Embassy in Washington and served as an alternate delegate of the Mexican delegation to the Inter-American Defense Board while at his diplomatic post.