MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Ecuador names woman as defense minister

Mrs. Lorena Escudero

The Ecuadorean government named another woman to be defense minister, to take over after the first female to hold the office was killed in a helicopter accident.

Lorena Escudero, 41, a university professor, has not yet taken over the post, according to a government statement Tuesday. Economy Minister Ricardo Patino is temporarily filling the position. Like her predecessor, Escudero is a teacher by vocation. She has a doctorate in Latin American studies and is a university professor, social researcher and consultant. Guadalupe Larriva, 50, the country's first female defense minister, and her 17-year-old daughter were killed when two helicopters collided this month during maneuvers to mark the 53rd anniversary of army aviation in Ecuador at a base near Manta. A colonel, three captains and a lieutenant also died in the crash. President Rafael Correa ordered a special commission to investigate the apparently accidental collision. He had said he wanted to appoint another woman as defense minister.