CLARK FREEPORT— Former Vice Chairman of the Clark Development Corporation (CDC) Gen. Benjamin P. Defensor, Jr. (Ret.) was awarded by the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) during the PMA Alumni Homecoming held in Baguio City recently.
Defensor was awarded with the PMA Lifetime Achievement Award for his dedication as a public servant wherein CDC generated its highest revenue over the past 20 years and became the top export revenue earner for Central Luzon under his stewardship as the Vice Chairman of the board.
His extensive career includes being designated as the Presidential Adviser of CDC in 2017. He was then appointed as a Director, later on elected as the Vice Chairman, and eventually became the Acting Chairman of the state-owned firm.
Aside from Defensor’s achievements and experience in CDC, he became the 26th Commanding General of Philippine Air Force (PAF) and the 30th Chief-of-Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
Defensor also created the Air Force City in Clark Air Base, won the Best Air Base award, and set the record as the first Commander to win two best Air Base Wing awards in two consecutive years and in two consecutive commands.
The said event was attended by President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. as the guest of honor and speaker who personally awarded Defensor and three other officers of PAF as outstanding alumni of the PMA.
Other PAF officers who have been awarded during the event are LtGen. Stephen P. Parreño with the Outstanding Achievement Award as the Commanding General of PAF, Col. Ann Marie T. Gerodiaz with the PMA Cavalier Award for Air Operations (Senior Officer), and Maj. James Anthony A. Montejo with the PMA Cavalier Award in the field of Air Operations (Junior Officer).
The PMA continues to fulfill their mission to develop cadets equipped with the character and knowledge of broad and basic military skills, and the education essential to the successful pursuit of a progressive military career.