Claudia Sheinbaum, the Mexican president-elect, announced Friday her choices for the top military leaders of the country when she assumes office in the next month. She named General Ricardo Trevilla to be the defense minister and Adm. Raymundo Morales as the leader of the Navy.

Both posts are vitally important in Mexico, where the military's remit has been greatly expanded under the outgoing president Andres Manuel Obrador to include major infrastructure projects as well as running a bank owned by Mexico, a commercial airline, and a brand new tourist train.

Sheinbaum acknowledged the dedication of the departing Defense Chief General Luis Sandoval, as well as the departing Navy Secretary Jose Rafael Ojeda in a press release, saying that her selections were the result of an "extensive search" for the best candidates.

According to a press release announcing the nominations, both Trevilla, aged 63, as well as Morales (aged 58) have a long military resume, including service in a variety of posts.

Trevilla, originally from Campeche, was the first person to attend Lopez Obrador’s morning press conference in July. Sandoval, who had been attending regularly, did not show up that day.

Trevilla's participation in the event was just a day after Sheinbaum announced that she would wait until the end of September to make her selections for top military positions. Local media speculated that Trevilla's attendance at Lopez Obrador’s press conference would indicate he would become the new defense minister.

Trevilla has master's degrees from the University of Arizona in public administration, military administration and internal security. Sheinbaum said that Trevilla previously served as a border guard in Chiapas' southern region.

Morales, a native of Oaxaca, studied at Washington's National Defense University and completed courses with the U.S. Coast Guard. He was the chief of communication for the Mexican Navy's General Staff.

Morales was appointed director of the Interoceanic Corridor by Lopez Obrador. This is a major project that aims to modernize rail links between Mexico's Pacific Coast and Gulf Coasts, on the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, to create a route for trade the government hopes can compete with the Panama Canal.

Sheinbaum will be Mexico's first female president on October 1. Cassandra Garrison, Sarah Morland, and David Gregorio (reporting)

(source: Reuters)