Robert Empedrad


Robert Arugay Empedrad is a retired Philippine Navy admiral who is the incumbent Administrator of the Maritime Industry Authority. He previously served as the Flag Officer-in-Command of the Philippine Navy from 2017 to 2020. He is a graduate of the Philippine Military Academy "Sinagtala" Class of 1986.

Education and career

Robert Empedrad first studied at Tuguegarao North Central School, and at Cagayan National High School. He also studied Civil Engineering at the Saint Louis University at Baguio City and applied in the Philippine Military Academy in 1982, and graduated in 1986. He also earned a Master in Business Administration, at the Philippine Christian University, Dasmariñas, Cavite, and took the US Naval Staff Course at US Naval War College, in Newport, Rhode Island, as well as took the Senior Executive Course for National University and Senior Strategic Leadership Programme at the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom.
He commanded various ships and naval task forces in the Philippine Navy, in leading ships like the, BRP Abraham Campo,,,, and task forces in the Naval Forces Western Mindanao like NTG 62.1, NTG 62.2, the Naval Task Force Sea Hawk, Naval Task Group 72.
He also commanded various positions in the Philippine Navy such as, Chief of Staff of Naval Forces Eastern Mindanao, Director, Naval Operations Center, Assistant Chief of Naval Staff for Intelligence, N2, Deputy Commander of Naval Intelligence Security Force, Assistant Chief of Naval Staff for Personnel, N1, Deputy Commander of Naval Forces Eastern Mindanao, Commander, Bonifacio Naval Station, the Commander, Offshore Combat Force, Philippine Fleet, the Deputy, Commander Philippine Fleet and the Deputy Chief of Staff for Reservist and Retirees Affairs, J9 at General Headquarters and Headquarters Service Command. As well as the Chairman of Defense Acquisition System Assessment Team, in charge of the updates on Navy Ships and the Frigate Acquisition Project, which came to a controversy that replaced his predecessor Vice Admiral Ronald Joseph Mercado for alleged insubordination over the controversy regarding the Jose Rizal-class frigates.

Awards

He is married to Blessilda Empedrad, and they have a son, Jelome.