Philippine Air Force Welcomes New Commander
Teh Philippine Air Force (PAF) ushered in a new era with the appointment of Lieutenant General Arthur Cordura as its 40th commanding general. The change of command ceremony, a notable event in the nation’s military calendar, took place at Villamor Air Base in Pasay City, presided over by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. himself.
Lt. Gen. Cordura, previously serving as the Armed Forces’ vice chief of staff, succeeds Lt. Gen. Stephen Parreño. His appointment, announced earlier this week, followed the Department of National Defense’s suggestion and President Marcos’ approval.
In his inaugural address, Lt. Gen. Cordura outlined his vision for the PAF’s future. He expressed optimism, stating, “Today, the PAF is on the precipice of achieving something really great. Opportunities simply present itself with the government leadership who shares the urgency of the AFP [Armed Forces of the Philippines] Modernization Program and the dire need to be Territorial Defense ready.”
He emphasized a strategic approach to modernization, adding, “Nonetheless, we all fairly understand, that this is the time that we need not only capitalize on the opportunities that our bureaucracy presents, but more importantly, for the PAF to consciously seek to create opportunities for its progress as well.”
Rather than a complete overhaul, Cordura plans a more nuanced approach. he explained his strategy, saying, “I woudl not ‘reinvent’ the PAF but intends to ‘tinker on the possibility to enculturate a developmental strategy characterized by simplicity but robust in content and arguably sustainable, inclusive in scope, and one that does not depart from the present metrics by which we effectively measure organizational success.’”
A key focus for his tenure will be the implementation of an Integrated Air Defense System (IADS). He summarized this initiative with the concise slogan, “In this respect, under my term, I intend to pursue a Command Thrust that focuses on the Mission Essential Tasks and clearly defines the imperatives for a triumphant implementation of an Integrated Air Defense System (IADS). A Command thrust captured in the catch phrase ‘Focus PAF’,”
Lt. Gen. Cordura’s impressive background includes graduating cum laude from the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) “Bigkis-Lahi” Class of 1990, placing within the top 10 of his class. His accomplishments extend to the PAF Flying School Class of 1992,where he ranked among the top three out of 65 student pilots. His experience also includes service with the 15th Strike Wing, achieving top-level flight qualifications.
This leadership transition comes at a critical juncture for the PAF, as the Philippines continues to invest in its military capabilities. The new commander’s vision and experience will be crucial in navigating the challenges and opportunities ahead. The appointment reflects a commitment to modernizing the PAF and strengthening its role in regional security.
By RSJ, GMA Integrated News (adapted)
