Alfredo Poveda

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Alfredo Ernesto Poveda Burbano (1926-1990) was President of Ecuador 11 January 1976 to 10 August 1979.

He was born in Píllaro, Tungurahua on January 24^th, 1926. He graduated from the Naval College of Argentina after attending Mejía School in Quito and the Naval College of Ecuador. He became commander of the First Naval Zone and commander of the Marine corps. He came to power in a military coup and was declared chairman of the Supreme Council and admiral of the Ecuadorian Navy. The Supreme Council had two other members as well, general Guillermo Durán Arcentales and general Luis Leoro Franco. These three generals were the heads of the marine corps, the navy and the army. As early as December of 1973, Poveda confided to the U.S. Air Force Attache, Lt. Colonel Roger F. A. Arias, Admiral Poveda was planning the "golpe" (coup) to overtake the government of General Rodriguez.^{[citation needed]} After the country stabilized, socially and economically, he proceeded to hold democratic elections and stepped down to hand presidential duties over to the newly democratically elected president. Some of his accomplishments include, but are not limited to, constitutional reforms, new laws for the Ecuadorian Marines, and an improved police structure.