PROF DR JOSE SANTOS R CARANDANG VI, MNSA

Vice President for Academics Affairs and Dean of Students

Prof Dr Jose Santos R Carandang VI, MNSA is a proud member of MNSA RC 42 and CGSC Class 51. He has been a member of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Ready Research Force for more than 20 years. His current rank is permanent Full Colonel in the Corps of Professors Reserve Force.
In 2018, Prof Dr Carandang took his mandatory retirement as Professor of Biology and Research Fellow at De La Salle University where he was a Lasallian academic for almost 40 years. A few months later, he was called back to full time teaching as Senior Lecturer. He is now on secondment from De La Salle University to the National Defense College of the Philippines as Vice President for Academic Affairs and concurrently the Dean.
His recent publications are mostly on food security particularly urban farming and the biological control of invasive species affecting food production and sustainability science. The latter research agenda is in collaboration with Prof Dr Robert Taylor of Montclair State University, New Jersey, USA.
His academic leadership and management experiences at DLSU include being the Dean of the College of Science, the Chair of the Biology Department and the Director of several offices including the Center for Natural Science and Environmental Research, the Food Institute, the Environmental Research Center and the Alfred Shields Marine Station. He was visiting Professor at Lasalle Beauvais in France in 2012. He was also a pioneer module writer and tutor at the University of the Philippines Open University. Furthermore, he was the Member for Biology of the Commission on Higher Education Technical Panel for Science and Mathematics for more than a decade and a reviewer of the Environmental Management Bureau for the Environmental Impact Assessment Process. He is also a Regular Member of the National Research Council of the Philippines.
He earned his first doctorate in Natural Science (Dr. rer. Nat.) from the University of Wuerzburg in Germany in 1992 as a German Academic Exchange Services scholar. He conducted his post-doctoral research projects in Plant Stress Physiology at the same university supported by the same scholarship. He earned his second doctorate, Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Leadership and Management from De La Salle University in 2018. He has a Master in National Security Administration degree from the National Defense College of the Philippines (MNSA RC 42) and a Master of Science in Biology degree from De La Salle University. His Bachelor of Science in Biology degree is from Adamson University.

CAPT ALDRIN C CUÑA, PN (RES) MNSA

Executive Vice President

CAPTAIN ALDRIN C CUÑA PN (RES) served as Chief of Staff to the Mayor (2010-2013) and City Administrator (2014-2019).  In the World Bank Doig Business Report (2019) the Philippines improved from 124^TH to 95^TH worldwide rankings, paving the way for “The Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018” (Republic Act 11032); which was incubated and pilot tested by the National Competitiveness Council during his watch in Quezon City.

Aldrin finished his Bachelor Degree in Political Science at the De La Salle University – Manila.  He has a Juris Doctor degree from the San Sebastian College – Recoletos.  In 2007, graduated 6^TH among 52 graduates of the 41^ST Master in National Security Administration Regular Class. He is currently finishing his Doctor in Public Administration at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines.

Captain Cuña assumed office as Executive Vice President on 18 August 2021.  He brings into the NDCP his wealth of experience in the field of policy research and analysis, public management and administration.  He is an OCD-accredited cadre on Incident Command System and a staunch supporter of Disaster Management and Resiliency.  Apart from being a faculty of Political Science, He was former Deputy Commander of the Naval Forces Reserve – National Capital Region.  EVP Cuña is currently Officer In Charge of the Naval Forces Reserve – West (Palawan).   He is also an active officer of the Association of Philippine Volunteer Fire Brigades Inc.

MR CLARENCE ANTHONY P DUGENIA

Acting Chief, Research and Special Studies Division

MR CLARENCE ANTHONY P DUGENIA is the Supervising Defense Research Officer and the Acting Chief of Research and Special Studies Division (RSSD) of the National Defense College of the Philippines.

He supervises in the planning, organizing, and controlling the various sections of the RSSD. He renders support and assistance in designing and implementing projects and programs relating to the implementation of research plans and policies. Moreover, he undertakes policy research in defense and national security issues. His other areas of interests include Disaster Risk Reduction and Management and Crisis Management.

He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Political Science at the University of the Philippines Diliman. He earned units in his Master’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning in the same university.

MS LILIA DJ ACO

Acting Chief, Financial Management Division

MS LILIA DJ ACO has been in service with the National Defense College of the
Philippines for thirty six years. She currently holds the positions as Head of the Budget
and Fiscal Section and the Acting Chief of the Financial and Management Division at
the NDCP.
She has a degree in Business Administration major in Accounting. She also earned
units in her Master’s degree in Business Administration at Polytechnic University of the
Philippines.
She supervises budget and operation, financial analysis, allotment status, and program
performance and budget execution review.
With her passion and dedication in her profession, she was granted several awards
such as Model Civilian Employee in 1990 from the Association of Government Internal
Auditors; Exemplary Supervisor in 2001 from the Philippine Association for Government
Budget Administration; and Model Supervisor of 2011 from the NDCP Association of
Civilian Employees.

MR MARLON Q SISION CPA

Acting Chief, Administrative Division

MR MARLON Q SISON is the Acting Chief of the Administrative Division of the National
Defense College of the Philippines. Prior to his designation, he served various positions
in the College. With his drive and initiative to climb the corporate ladder, he worked his
way up and become the former Chief of Financial Management Division.
He provides general and over-all administrative support and services to all the activities
of the College for its improvement and effective utilization of financial and manpower
resources. Furthermore, he formulates and develops policies relative to the general
administrative affairs of the NDCP.
He earned his bachelor’s degree in Business Administration Major in Accounting at the
University of the East. In 1985, he received his license as Certified Public Accountant.
He attended several trainings, seminars, and workshops as part of his professional
development. He has been part of the College for four decades.

PROF ROBERT JOSEPH P MEDILLO

Acting Chief, Academics Affairs Division

ROBERT JOSEPH PAMA MEDILLO is an Associate Professor II and the Acting Chief of the Academic Affairs Division of the National Defense College of the Philippines. He also served as Assistant to the President on Research Matters from June 2021 to March 2022. Prof Medillo is the MNSA Program’s Module Director of NSA 300 (Thesis Writing) for the Academic Year 2021-2022. His research areas are critical security studies, politics of security, security cooperation, and foreign policy and national security issues in developing countries.

He earned his Master of Arts in Political Science from De La Salle University-Manila in 2018 (Recipient, St. La Salle Financial Assistance Scholarship) and his Bachelor of Arts in Consular and Diplomatic Affairs from De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde in 2012 (Recipient, Full Honors Academic Scholarship). His master’s degree thesis titled “Imperialism, State-Making, and Philippine Security in the South China Sea” analyzed the Philippines’ security challenges in the South China Sea using the nuances of postcolonial perspective in International Relations (IR).

His recent publications are “Seeking Accountability, Legitimacy, and Transparency: Congressional Intervention in the Philippines’ South China Sea Policy,” Philippine Political Science Journal (Volume 41, Issue 1-2); “The Tragedy of Small Power Politics: The Philippines in the South China Sea,” Bandung: Journal of the Global South (Volume 7, Issue 1); and “The Philippine Security Predicament in the South China Sea,” Digest of the Office of the Strategic Studies and Strategy Management, Armed Forces of the Philippines (Volume 23, Issue 3). His commentary “Will Taiwan’s COVID-19 Response Bolster its International Recognition?” was published by the East Asia Forum.

His forthcoming publications are “The European Union as a Security Actor in the South China Sea: A Philippine Perspective” (Konrad Adenauer Stiftung Philippines) and “Book Review: Rivers of Iron: Railroads and Chinese Power in Southeast Asia” (Asian Politics and Policy Journal). In the past almost ten years combined, he taught general education and professional courses in Political Science, International Studies, and Social Sciences in Adamson University, National University, College of the Holy Spirit, and Far Eastern University, and has worked for diplomatic missions based in Manila: under the Political Section of the Embassy of the Republic of Korea from 2014 to 2015, and the Press and Public Affairs Section of the Embassy of the Republic of Italy from 2016 to 2021.

PROF REJ C TORRECAMPO

Director, Philippine Center of Excellence in Defense
Development and Security

ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR REJ CORTEZ TORRECAMPO is an Associate Professor I of the National Defense College of the Philippines and a Senior Lecturer at the International Studies Department of Miriam College. He is also currently the Director of the Philippine Center of Excellence in Defense, Development, and Security (PCEDS) of NDCP. He has been with the defense sector since 2015; serving as defense analyst at the Office Of Naval Strategic Studies of the Philippine Navy.

He works on research and extension programs related to gender, peace, and security; collaborative governance; and naval diplomacy. He also spearheads the creatives and innovation activities of PCEDS, particularly in introducing new ways of producing and disseminating knowledge and increasing engagement with stakeholders.

He obtained a degree of Master in Development Management from the Asian Institute of Management (AIM) and Bachelor of Arts in International Studies, with specialization in International Politics minor in Peace Studies from Miriam College. He completed 30 units of coursework for the program Master of Arts in Foreign Service from the Philippine Women’s University from 2014-2016.

LTCOL DARWIN C LAGUARDIA, COP

Acting Chief, Military and Security Division