Henrique Gouveia e Melo


Henrique Gouveia e Melo

GCC GCA
Official portrait, 2021
Chief of the Naval Staff
In office
27 December 2021 – 27 December 2024
PresidentMarcelo Rebelo de Sousa
Preceded byAntónio Mendes Calado
Succeeded byJorge Nobre de Sousa
Coordinator of the COVID-19 Vaccination Plan Task Force
In office
3 February 2021 – 28 September 2021
Appointed byJoão Gomes Cravinho
(Minister of National Defence)
Eduardo Cabrita
(Minister of Internal Administration)
Marta Temido
(Minister of Health)
Preceded byFrancisco Ramos
Succeeded byOffice abolished
Commander of the European Maritime Force
In office
19 September 2017 – 19 September 2019
Preceded byDonato Marzano
Succeeded byJean-Philippe Rolland
Personal details
Born
Henrique Eduardo Passaláqua de Gouveia e Melo

(1960-11-21) 21 November 1960
Quelimane, Portuguese Mozambique, Portugal
CitizenshipPortugal
Spouse(s)
Carol Costeloe
(m. 1986; div. 2025)
Domestic partnerMaria Cristina Castanheta
(since 2019)
Children2
Alma materNaval School
Military service
Allegiance Portugal
Branch/service Portuguese Navy
Years of service1979–2024 (active)
2024–present (reserve)
RankAdmiral

Admiral Henrique Eduardo Passaláqua de Gouveia e Melo (pt; born 21 November 1960) is a retired Portuguese Navy officer and politician. He was the Chief of the Naval Staff, from 2021 to 2024. He was known for his role during the COVID-19 pandemic in Portugal.[1]

In May 2025, he announced his campaign for president in the 2026 election.[2]

References

  1. "Os Mais Poderosos de 2021" [The Most Powerful of 2021]. Jornal de Negócios (in Portuguese). Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  2. Bacelar Begonha, Ana (29 May 2025). "Gouveia e Melo apresenta-se como candidato: "Precisamos de um Presidente diferente"" [Gouveia e Melo puts forward his candidacy: "We need a different President"]. Público (in Portuguese). Retrieved 31 May 2025.