Mexico's Sheinbaum names defense minister, Navy chief

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexican President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum Friday announced her picks to serve as the country's top military leaders once she takes office next month, naming General Ricardo Trevilla as defense minister and Admiral Raymundo Morales to lead the Navy.

The two posts are crucially important in Mexico where, under outgoing President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador the military has seen its remit greatly expanded to include constructing major infrastructure projects, running a state-owned bank, a commercial airline and a new tourist train.

In a statement, Sheinbaum recognized the dedication of outgoing defense chief General Luis Sandoval and outgoing Navy Secretary Jose Rafael Ojeda, and said her picks followed an "extensive" search for the best candidates.

Both Trevilla, 63, and Morales, 58, have decades-long resumes of military service in various posts, according to a statement announcing their nominations.

Trevilla, a Campeche state native, participated for the first time in Lopez Obrador's morning press conference on July 9, replacing Sandoval that day, who has been a regular attendee.

Trevilla's presence in the event came a day after Sheinbaum said she would wait until September to announce her picks for the top military jobs, drawing speculation by local media that his participation in Lopez Obrador's press conference was a sign he would be named defense minister.

Trevilla holds master's degrees in military administration for internal security and national defense, and public administration. He previously served in the southern border region in Chiapas, Sheinbaum's statement said.

Morales, from Oaxaca state, studied at the National Defense University in Washington, D.C. and took courses with the U.S. Coast Guard. He has served as a the chief of communications of the Mexican navy's general staff.

Under Lopez Obrador, Morales served as director of the Interoceanic Corridor, a major infrastructure project to modernize the rail link between Mexico's Pacific and Gulf coasts on the Isthmus of Tehuantepec to create a trade route the government hopes will compete with the Panama Canal.

Sheinbaum, Mexico's first woman to be elected president, will take office on Oct. 1.

(Reporting by Cassandra Garrison; Editing by Sarah Morland and David Gregorio)

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