Eduardo Gregorio Gordon Valcárcel (born 9 March 1952) is a retired Chilean police officer who served as General Director of Carabineros de Chile from 2008 to 2011. He succeeded José Alejandro Bernales following the latter's death in 2008 and remained in command during the presidencies of Michelle Bachelet and Sebastián Piñera.
Early life Gordon was born in Santiago, Chile, on 9 March 1952. He is the son of Eduardo Gordon Cañas, a former member of Carabineros, and Eliana Valcárcel García.
In 1980, he married María del Pilar Orduña Rovirosa, with whom he has two children, Francisca and Eduardo.
Police career Gordon entered the Carabineros School in 1974 and graduated the following year as a second lieutenant of Order and Security. His first assignment was at the 1st Police Station in San Antonio, where he later served as head of the Puerto San Antonio police post.
In 1976, Gordon was sent to Spain to undertake professional training with the Civil Guard. After returning to Chile the following year, he was assigned to the Carabineros School, where he served as an assistant instructor for officer candidates.
During the following decades, Gordon held a series of operational, administrative and educational appointments. In 1986, he became administrative deputy commissioner of the 3rd Santiago Central Police Station. Between 1991 and 1993, he served on the advisory committee of the General Director's cabinet, and from 1995 to 1996 he was administrative deputy prefect of the Magallanes Prefecture.
Gordon served as deputy director of the Carabineros School from 1997 to 1998 and was appointed director of the institution in 2001. That same year, he became prefect of the Santiago Central Prefecture. In 2003, he was appointed deputy commander of the Metropolitan Zone.
In November 2003, Gordon was promoted to general and appointed commander of the 5th Carabineros Zone in the Valparaíso Region. He was promoted to General Inspector in November 2005 and assumed responsibility for the institution's Inspectorate General. The following year, he became General Deputy Director of Carabineros, the second-highest-ranking position in the institution.
General Director of Carabineros Following the death of General Director José Alejandro Bernales on 29 May 2008, President Michelle Bachelet appointed Gordon acting General Director in order to ensure continuity of command.
On 3 June 2008, Bachelet appointed him permanent General Director of Carabineros for a four-year term. Gordon formally assumed command on 6 June at a ceremony presided over by Bachelet, during which he received the command baton and the President of the Republic Decoration in the grade of Collar of the Grand Cross.
As General Director, Gordon headed Carabineros during the final two years of Bachelet's first administration and the beginning of Sebastián Piñera's first government.
Gordon left the General Directorate on 2 September 2011 after more than three years in command. General Inspector Gustavo González Jure, then General Deputy Director, initially assumed leadership of the institution and was subsequently appointed as Gordon's permanent successor.
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