Anita Priscela Velástegui Ramos (born July 26, 1942, in Ambato) was one of the first female officers to have reached the military rank of colonel in the Ecuadorian Army.

Anita Velástegui was born into a family of agricultural producers and distributors in Ambato, where she grew up together with three brothers and one sister.

Eventually she was assigned to the Armed Forces' National Hospital, where she served as a dentist for many years.

Shortly after her promotion she was appointed Director of the Health Services Department of the Ministry of Defense.

Anita lives in Quito, and has been married to Numa Pompilio Garcés Altamanirano for more than 30 years; they have three adult sons: David, Pablo and Miguel.