Using the PMESII framework to guide the analysis, Venezuela has been generally examined as a system of systems to identify nodes, linkages, and centers of gravity (COG) and determine the relationships between them. Once each system's COGs were identified, the critical capabilities (CCs) of those COGs were analyzed to determine which is most important to achieving U.S. strategic objectives in Venezuela. This article discusses the importance of Venezuela's executive office and the importance of the oil industry as critical COGs within its political and economic systems. This article focuses on these two systems because of their importance and close interweaving. As described in Joint Doctrine, the COGs explored in this article were identified using analysis of nodes and links within their respective systems. As such, the oil economy was determined to be a critical requirement (CR) and critical vulnerability (CV) for the political system as well as other PMESII categories not directly addressed in this paper. Therefore, the oil industry within Venezuela's economic system is the primary COG and possible means of influence are essential to consider while moving toward achieving the United States' strategic goals with Venezuela, namely stability regional. Analysis of Venezuela's political history and current governmental systems demonstrates that former President Chávez designed the Executive Office to be the epicenter of the political system, and therefore a strategic COG. In Venezuela's current political system, Nicolas Maduro is in charge, leading the country through a somewhat unstable political and economic period. To do this, he must persevere to support the sovereignty of Venezuela, safeguard its affairs...... middle of paper ....... Strategic objectives and strategic goals of the Department of State. Report. Department of State. The Office of Website Management, Bureau of Public Affairs., January 5, 2005. Accessed January 7, 2014. http://www.state.gov/s/d/rm/rls/perfrpt/2004hlts/html/39852.htm. Library of Congress - Federal Research Division. “Country profile: Venezuela”. Last edited March 2005. Accessed January 13, 2014. http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/profiles/Venezuela.pdf.Mark P. Sullivan. Venezuela: Questions for Congress. CRS Report for Congress, January 10, 2013. Accessed January 12, 2014. http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/row/R40938.pdf. Ryan Mallett-Outtrim. “'A solid foundation for 21st century socialism': Venezuela's Maduro restructures several government ministries and institutions. » Last modified January 16, 2014. Accessed January 17, 2014. http://venezuelanalysis.com/news/10287.