World · Philippines Bureau
PMA appoints first female commandant of cadets as brigadier general
Army Col. Leah Lorenzo-Santiago has become the Philippine Military Academy's first woman commandant of cadets, returning to the institution three decades after graduating as one of its pioneering female officers. A promotion to brigadier general rank is expected to follow her appointment.
LSN Philippines ·
BAGUIO CITY — The Philippine Military Academy marked a significant milestone Saturday with the appointment of Army Col. Leah Lorenzo-Santiago as its first female commandant of cadets, the institution's senior leadership position responsible for overseeing cadet training and discipline.
Santiago, a summa cum laude graduate of the PMA's "Kalasag-Lahi" Class of 1991, returns to the academy 33 years after entering as one of its pioneering female cadets. Her appointment signals the military's continued advancement of women in senior command roles and reflects broader institutional evolution at the Philippines' premier military training academy.
The decorated officer's tenure as commandant comes as the PMA continues to shape the next generation of Armed Forces of the Philippines leadership. Santiago is expected to receive promotion to brigadier general rank, cementing her status among the military's highest-ranking female officers.
As commandant of cadets, Santiago will oversee the academy's rigorous training regimen and maintain the standards that have defined PMA graduates for generations. Her leadership tenure underscores the academy's commitment to professional excellence and inclusive advancement within the armed forces.
Photo: The main gate of the Philippine Military Academy at Fort Del Pilar, Baguio City. National Historical Commission of the Philippines via Wikimedia Commons (public domain).