The RCC elects Mohamed Naguib president and commander in chief.

He is chosen because he is a popular hero of the 1948 Arab-Israeli War and an officer trusted by the army.

In 1951 the Free Officers had elected him as president of the Egyptian Army Officers Club over the candidate chosen by Farouk

It had been extremely important for the Free Officers to ensure the loyalty of the army if the coup were to succeed.

Naguib is fifty-one years old; the average age of the other Free Officers is thirty-three.