Ricardo A. David, Jr is a former Chief of staff of the Philippine Armed Forces. He was the Armed Forces Northern Luzon Command chief. On June 30, 2010, President

Benigno Aquino III Benigno Simeon Aquino III (; born Benigno Simeon Cojuangco Aquino III; February 8, 1960 – June 24, 2021), also known as Noynoy Aquino and colloquially as PNoy, was a Filipino politician who served as the 15th president of the Philippines ...

picked David as his AFP chief. On July 2, 2010, Ricardo David assumes the command of the

Armed Forces of the Philippines The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) () are the military forces of the Philippines. It consists of three main service branches; the Philippine Army, Army, the Philippine Air Force, Air Force, and the Philippine Navy, Navy (including the P ...

from Lt Gen. Nestor Z Ochoa. He currently serves as the Undersecretary for Defense Policy of the Department of National Defense.

Background

He was born in 1955 in San Fernando, Pampanga, but spent most of his childhood in Victoria, Tarlac. He took up his primary education in Dolores Elementary School of Dolores, San Fernando, Pampanga and he graduated at the top of his class in 1967. He graduated from Victoria High School in Tarlac as the

Salutatorian Salutatorian is an academic title given in Armenia, the Philippines, Canada, Afghanistan and the United States to the second-highest-ranked graduate of the entire graduating class of a specific discipline. Only the valedictorian is ranked higher. ...

of his class in 1971. Upon graduating high school, he took up undergraduate studies in engineering at St. Louis University in Baguio City on a full scholarship program. After a couple of years of studies, he traded one scholarship program for another when he took his Oath as a Cadet of the Philippine Military Academy on April 1, 1973; He graduated from the Philippine Military Academy on March 1, 1977.

Military career

He was the Commanding Officer of the 50th Infantry Battalion of the 5th Infantry Division from December 1996 to April 1998. He also became the Commanding General of the 402nd Infantry Brigade of the 4th Infantry Division from March 2005 to December 2006. This was followed by his assignment to the AFP Command Center until August 2007. Afterwards, he commanded the Army Support Command until April 2008, then the 4th Infantry Division until June 2009 and from there to the AFP Northern Luzon Command up to the time he became the Chief of Staff, Armed Forces of the Philippines on July 2, 2010.

Awards

Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation The Philippine Presidential Unit citation BadgeThe AFP Adjutant General, ''Awards and Decorations Handbook'', 1997, OTAG, p. 65. is a unit decoration of the Republic of the Philippines. It has been awarded to certain units of the United States ...

Martial Law Unit Citation * PHL People Power I Unit Citation

People Power I Unit Citation * PHL People Power II Unit Citation

People Power II Unit Citation * PHL Distinguished Service Star BAR

Distinguished Service Stars * PHI Legion of Honor 2003 Officer BAR

PHL Legion of Honor - Chief Commander BAR

Philippine Legion of Honor The Philippine Legion of Honor (; ) was established by President Manuel Roxas, through Philippine Army Circular No. 60 dated July 3, 1947. The Philippine Legion of Honour, Honor was patterned after the Legion of Merit of the United States of Amer ...

, Degree of Officer & Chief Commander * PHL Outstanding Achievement Medal

Outstanding Achievement Medal The Outstanding Achievement MedalThe AFP Adjutant General, ''AFP Awards and Decorations Handbook'', 1997, OTAG, p. 23. is a single grade decoration of the Philippines The Philippines, officially the Republic of the Philippines, is an Archi ...

Gawad sa Kaunlaran The Gawad sa Kaunlaran () is awarded by the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Area Command, and Major Service Commanders to Philippine citizens. It is the second highest distinction presented by the Armed Forces of the Philip ...

Bronze Cross Medal The Bronze Cross MedalThe AFP Adjutant General, ''AFP Awards and Decorations Handbook'', 1997, OTAG, p. 29. is a single grade military decoration of the Armed Forces of the Philippines which is awarded for "heroism involving risk of life" under c ...

s *

Military Merit Medals * PHL Silver Wing Medal ribbon bar

Silver Wing Medal This Silver Wing Medal is a military decoration awarded by Armed Forces of the Philippines to Philippine and allied military personnel. The Silver Wing Medal is awarded in only one class, and may be awarded by the List of AFP Chiefs of Staff, Chief ...

Military Commendation Medals * PHL Military Civic Action Medal

Military Civic Action Medals * PHL Sagisag Ulirang Kawal

Sagisag ng Ulirang Kawal * AFP Long Service Medal

Long Service Medal * Anti-dissidence Campaign Medal *

Luzon Anti-Dissidence Campaign Medal *

Mindanao Anti-Dissidence Campaign Medal *

Disaster Relief and Rehabilitation Operations Ribbon * Combat Commander's Badge *

AFP Parachutist Badge *

Philippine Army Command and General Staff Course Badge * PAF Gold Wings Badge

AFP Chief of staff

In Gen. David's change-of-command ceremony speech, David reminded his soldiers to keep the military as a "disciplined institution." He said: "We shall continue to be a responsible instrument of public policy, subservient to civilian authority,"

Family

He is married to Merilou Malacay of Cagayan de Oro City and they have two sons, Russel David and Rommel David.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:David, Ricardo Living people Filipino generals Chiefs of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines People from San Fernando, Pampanga People from Tarlac Benigno Aquino III administration personnel Philippine Military Academy alumni Saint Louis University (Philippines) alumni Year of birth missing (living people)