1959

Rear Admiral DE LA MAZA was born in the Naval Base in Talcahuano on 4th September 1959. After his elementary school studies in Viña del Mar, he entered the Naval "Arturo Prat" and was commissioned an Ensign on January 1979.

He is a Naval Electronic Engineer (1985), Staff Officer (1994) and Military Professor in the Naval Operations Area (2000). Furthermore, he took the following specialization courses in the Royal Navy: Principal Warfare Officer at HMS Dryad (1990) and Staff Course at the Royal Navy College, Greenwich (1994).

For his more than 14 years of seagoing appointments, he has served as crew Officer at Torpedo Boat Tegualda, DDG Almirante Williams and County class destroyers DLHs "Almirante Blanco" and "Almirante Cochrane". He has been Commanding Officer of LM Angamos in 1997-98, then Commanding Officer of Leander Frigate PFG "Almirante Lynch" in 2001-2002 and Commanding Officer of type 22 frigate PFG "Almirante Williams" in 2005.

Amongst his shore duties, he has filled duties in the Electronics Department at the Directorate of Weapons; Naval College Warfare Professor; Combined Operations Officer at the Fleet Staff; Deputy Chief of the Naval Mission to Chile in London and Chief of the Navy General Staff Planning Department. From 2007 to 2008 he served as Secretary to the Navy Commander in Chief.

On 17th December 2008 he took over as Director Navy Units Refit and on 30th December 2008 he was promoted to Commodore, being part of the Navy High Command.

On Jun 19st, 2009, the Supreme Government granted him the rank of Rear Admiral.

On December 4th, 2009, he took over as Commander in Chief of the Fleet.

He is married to the former Marcela Bengoa and they have seven children from 2 through 19 years old.