Career
Melendez was the Deputy Minister of Education of the Ministry of Defense. On July 3, 2012, the president of Venezuela, Hugo Chavez, promoted her to the post of Vice Admiral. Melendez was the first Venezuelan woman to receive this distinction in after being named Commander of General Staff of the Bolivarian Armed Forces.
On 13 October, she was named Minister of People"s Power of the Office by President Hugo Chavez and confirmed by national decree on 15 October.
On 21 April 2013, during a national radio and television, she was reaffirmed as Minister of Management the Bolivarian Government of Venezuela for the government of Nicolas Maduro. On 3 July 2013 the president of the republic amounts to admiral in chief and July 5, 2013 the appointed Minister of Defense, the first woman to hold both charges in the history of Venezuela.