WITH President of the Councils of State and Ministers Raúl Castro Ruz in attendance, Reserve Division General José Ramón Fernández, decorated Hero of the Republic, was awarded an Honorary Doctorate on November 4.

Division General Roberto Legrá Sotolongo, a member of the Antonio Maceo and Carlos Juan Finlay Orders, director of the General Máximo Gómez Revolutionary Armed Forces Academy, where the ceremony took place, recalled the honoree’s academic, political and military merits and presented the honorary doctorate in the name of the faculty council of this institution of higher learning.

During the March 1952 coup d’etat, when José Ramón Fernández was director of the Managua Military Academy, he was among a group of honorable officers who conspired to challenge the illegitimate government. His life-long dedication to the Revolution began at this time.

Described as a "Military Sciences man" he made important contributions in the arena of Cuban military education and participated in the creation, development and perfection of the Revolutionary Armed Forces (FAR) system of educational centers, linked to the Camilo Cienfuegos school, as well as other teaching institutions and cadet academies. Additionally, he served as Chief of Staff for combat preparation on the General Staff and as FAR deputy minister.

Recognized during the event were his contributions as Minister of Education, promoting an "authentically Cuban pedagogy" and organizing the first Education and Culture Conference. He played a leading role on commissions directing the country’s participation in the Pan American and Central American Games and served as president of the Olympic Committee. Fernández is a member of the Communist Party of Cuba’s Central Committee and bears the Playa Girón Order and the First Degree Máximo Gómez Order.

"I will struggle to always rise to the level of this honor which you have awarded me and the only way to do so will be to continue working to be useful, with absolute loyalty to Cuba, to the Revolution, to Fidel, to Raúl, to the Party, to the FAR, with the certainty that life will always find me on the side of duty. This is my life’s meaning, which will set my course until my last breath," a deeply moved José Ramón Fernández said.

"We are proud of Fernández and all of our chief officers, and of course, you will be those who will replace us," said President Raúl Castro after personally greeting the honoree, who is also a National Assembly of Peoples Power deputy.