Coronel Javier Ayala is a Colombian Military Lawyer specializing in constitutional law, criminal code, and military justice. Throughout his career, he has advocated for the education of human rights and international humanitarian law within the armed forces, focusing on strengthening public policies for the protection and respect of human rights. Coronel Ayala holds a PhD from Spain's University of Alfonso X and a Masters in Security and Defense from the University of Antonio Nebrija. He is also a PhD Candidate at Colombia's Sergio Arboleda University. His research focuses on Operational Law as applied to the principles of military Rules of Engagement and the use of force in armed conflicts.
Throughout his career he has occupied numerous leadership positions including Dean of Colombia's War College and Chief of the Colombian Army’s Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law department. Additionally, at the Ministry of Defense level, he led the establishment of the Colombian Armed Forces School of Military Justice and was the institute’s first Director.
Coronel Ayala has guest lectured on conflict resolution, human rights, and international humanitarian law throughout the USA, Sweden, Spain, Italy, and Colombia. He currently serves at the Inter-American Defense College in Washington DC where he continues to promote human rights to senior military, police, and government official of the western hemisphere.
