Nearly three decades after making history as the Philippine Military Academy’s first female Summa Cum Laude graduate, Colonel Leah L Santiago PA reached another milestone in her military career as she became the Academy’s first female Commandant of Cadets on October 17, 2026.
A member of PMA “KALASAGLAHI” Class of 1997, Santiago belongs to the pioneering class that produced the Academy’s first female graduates. Starting as a cadet of Charlie Company, she built a military career spanning combat unit leadership, field artillery, personnel management, and military education.
Her appointment represents a significant chapter in the history of women in the Armed Forces of the Philippines, demonstrating the opportunities for female officers to advance into senior military leadership positions.
Following her graduation from PMA in 1997, Santiago was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Philippine Army. She began her military career with the 30th Infantry Battalion, 4th Infantry Division, serving as Platoon Leader and Executive Officer of Bravo Company before eventually becoming its Company Commander.
She later held various leadership and administrative assignments at Headquarters Philippine Army and the General Headquarters, Armed Forces of the Philippines.
From 2016 to 2019, she returned to the Academy as the first female Senior Tactical Officer of the Cadet Corps Armed Forces of the Philippines, gaining direct experience in supervising the military training and development of cadets.
She subsequently commanded the 9th Field Artillery Battery (Provisional), Army Artillery Regiment, stationed in Sulu, before assuming key personnel management responsibilities at Headquarters Philippine Army.
Her subsequent assignments included Executive Officer and Deputy of the Office of the Assistant Chief of Staff for Personnel, G1; Director of the Personnel Management Center; and Assistant Chief of Staff for Personnel, G1, Philippine Army, her most recent assignment before returning to PMA.
Beyond her distinction as PMA’s first female Summa Cum Laude graduate, Santiago pursued extensive military and civilian education throughout her career. She completed the Field Artillery Basic and Advanced Courses, Military Intelligence Officer Course, Command and General Staff Course, and specialized military training in Australia, among other professional development programs.
She also earned three master’s degrees: Master in Public Management, major in Development Security, from the Development Academy of the Philippines; Master of Strategic Studies from the Australian National University; and Master of Business Administration from the Ateneo Graduate School of Business.
Her professional development also includes training in gender and development planning and budgeting at the Miriam College Women and Gender Institute.
Her return to PMA carries a distinction few officers can claim, having been among the Academy’s pioneering female graduates and now being entrusted with leading the military training and development of its Cadet Corps.
As Commandant of Cadets, she assumes responsibility for strengthening military proficiency, discipline, accountability, and leadership development while preparing future officers for the increasingly complex demands of national defense.
Her journey from pioneering female cadet to senior military leader reflects the expanding role of women in the AFP, where professional competence, character, and dedication to duty remain fundamental to military leadership.
For PMA, her appointment is both a historic achievement and a continuation of its responsibility to develop future officers who are competent, principled, and operationally prepared for a lifetime of service to the nation.