Tomás Ribeiro Paiva

Tomás Miguel Miné Ribeiro Paiva (born 29 September 1960) is a Brazilian army general, incumbent commander of the Brazilian Army.

Biography
Born in São Paulo, Paiva began his military career in 1975, when he joined the Brazilian Army Preparatory School of Cadets in Campinas and was declared officer candidate in 1981.

He acted in a mission of the Army in Haiti as Undercommander of the Peacekeeping Infantry Battalion and was Commander of the Peacekeeping Forces of Operation Archangel VI in Penha and Alemão Complexes in Rio de Janeiro, in 2012.

Paiva also commanded the Presidential Guard Battalion in Brasília and was aide to the President during Fernando Henrique Cardoso presidency and Brazilian Military Aide to the Ecuadorian Army.

Tomás was also head of the Army Command Staff in Brasília, when general Eduardo Villas Bôas was the Commander and commanded the 5th Army Division in Curitiba.

General Tomás was also commander of the 11th Mechanized Infantry Brigade in Campinas, of the Agulhas Negras Military Academy in Resende, Rio de Janeiro and the Southeastern Military Command in São Paulo.

Military awards

 * - Order of Military Merit (Grand Cross)
 * - Order of Defence Merit (Grand Officer)
 * - Order of Naval Merit (Grand Officer)
 * - Order of Aeronautical Merit (Grand Officer)
 * BRA OMJM Alta Distincao BAR.svg - Order of Military Judiciary Merit (High Distinction)