Jaime Hernández Méndez is a retired Brigadier General of the Guatemalan Army who served as the first Minister of Defense of the new Democratic period started with the free election of President Vinicio Cerezo Arevalo in 1986. He served from January 14, 1986 to January 31, 1987.

He was part of the High Command of the Army who took charge of the country after the Coup against Efraín Rios Montt

Efraín Ríos Montt

José Efraín Ríos Montt is a former de facto President of Guatemala, dictator, army general, and former president of Congress. In the 2003 presidential elections, he unsuccessfully ran as the candidate of the ruling Guatemalan Republican Front .Huehuetenango-born Ríos Montt remains one of the most...

 in 1983. At that time he was the First Commander of the key base Guardia de Honor when General Oscar Mejía Victores

Óscar Humberto Mejía Victores

Óscar Humberto Mejía Victores was the 27th President of Guatemala from 8 August 1983 to 14 January 1986. A member of the military, he was President of Guatemala during a time of increased repression and death squad activity...

took charge of the Government.

Together with General Mejía Víctores as Chief of State and Minister of Defense and General Rodolfo Lobos Zamora as Sub Chief of State and Chief of General Staff of National Defense, General Hernández started the process for the return to democracy with elections for a Constituent Assembly in 1984 followed with free general elections in 1985.