Nuria del Rocío Esparch Fernández
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|---|---|
 | |
| Minister of Defense | |
| In office 18 November 2020 – 29 July 2021 | |
| President | Francisco Sagasti |
| Prime Minister | Violeta Bermúdez |
| Preceded by | Walter Chavez |
| Succeeded by | Walter Ayala |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1969-01-19) 19 January 1969 (age 55) |
| Nationality | Peruvian |
| Alma mater | Pontifical Catholic University of Peru Syracuse University |
| Profession | Lawyer |
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Nuria del Rocío Esparch Fernández (born 19 January 1969) is a Peruvian lawyer and politician who had served as the country's Defence Minister from November 2020 to July 2021.
Esparch was born in Lima on 19 January 1969.[1] At the age of 14, Esparch was denied admission to a naval school, as "no room for women in the navy".[2] She studied law at the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru.[3] She graduated from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public AffairsatSyracuse University with a Master of Public Administration in 2000.[2][4][5]
Esparch joined the public service in 1997.[4] She was general Secretary in the ministries of Agriculture and Labor from 2001 until 2005, and served an advisor to the Vice Ministry of the Interior from 2003–2004.[3]
She was appointed Deputy Minister of Administrative and Economic Affairs by President Alan García in 2006.[6] From 2008 until February 2011, she was Executive President of the National Civil Service Authority (SERVIR).[3][7][4]
From 2014 until 2018, Esparch was Manager of Institutional Relations for construction company Graña y Montero.[1]
Esparch was appointed defence minister by interim president Francisco Sagasti on 18 November 2020, the first woman to hold the position.[3][8] Later that month, she reported that 10,000 members of the country's Armed Forces were being trained to deliver COVID-19 vaccines as soon as they become available.[9]
Esparch has been given the highest civilian distinctions from the Armed Forces of Peru.[3]
In 2021, Esparch was selected to become a member of the US National Academy of Public Administration.[5][10]
