Omar Torrijos

Maximum Leader of the Panamanian Revolution Omar Torrijos
Torrijos in 1978
Military Leader of Panama
In office October 11, 1968 – July 31, 1981
President	José María Pinilla (1968–69) Demetrio Lakas Bahas (1969–78) Arístides Royo (1978–82)
Preceded by	Arnulfo Arias (President)
Succeeded by	Rubén Darío Paredes
Personal details
Born	Omar Efraín Torrijos Herrera February 13, 1929 Santiago, Panama
Died	July 31, 1981(1981-07-31) (aged 52) near Penonomé, Panama
Resting place	Torrijos Mausoleum Amador, Panama City, Panama
Political party	Democratic Revolutionary Party (1979–1981)
Spouse	Raquel Pauzner de Torrijos
Children	3
Occupation	Military Officer, Dictator
Signature
Military service
Allegiance	Panama
Branch/service	National Guard of Panama
Years of service	1950-1981
Rank	Brigadier General

Omar Efraín Torrijos Herrera (February 13, 1929 – July 31, 1981) was a Panamanian dictator, as well as the Commander of the Panamanian National Guard and military leader of Panama from 1968 to his death in 1981. Torrijos was never officially the president of Panama, but instead held self-imposed and all-encompassing titles including "Maximum Leader of the Panamanian Revolution". Torrijos took power in a coup d'état and instituted a number of social reforms.

Torrijos is best known for negotiating the 1977 Torrijos–Carter Treaties that eventually gave Panama full sovereignty over the Panama Canal. The two treaties guaranteed that Panama would gain control of the Panama Canal after 1999, ending the control of the canal that the U.S. had exercised since 1903. On December 31, 1999, the final phase of the treaty, the US relinquished control of the Panama Canal and all areas in what had been the Panama Canal Zone.

His son Martín Torrijos was elected president and served from 2004 to 2009.