Nestor R. Santillan

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Nestor R. Santillan
14 May 1948
LGEN Nestor R. Santillan 0-5591 AFP
Service/branch	Philippine Air Force
Years of service	34
Rank	Lieutenant General
Unit	220Th Airlift Wing, PAF
Commands	Philippine Air Force
Awards	Distinguished Service Star (w/ 5th Bronze Anahaw Leaf), Military Merit Medal (w/ 1st Bronze Anahaw Leaf after the 1st SAL), Silver Wing Medal (w/ 1st Anahaw Leaf), Military Commendation Medal (w/ 1st Silver Equilateral Triangle)
Relations	Enya G. Santillan (Spouse)

Lieutenant General Nestor Reyes Santillan O-5591 AFP, the 27th Commanding General of the Philippine Air Force has held five positions of major responsibility before he was chosen by the President of the Republic of the Philippines as the Air Force Chief. He became the Commandant of the Air Command and Staff College, Wing Commander of the 410th Maintenance Wing, Wing Commander of the 220th Airlift Wing, Commander of the Tactical Operations Command, and then Vice Commander of the Philippine Air Force.

Upon graduating with flying colors from the Philippine Military Academy in 1970, he joined the Philippine Air Force and eventually earned his reputation as the PAF’s “Quiet Achiever” due to his consistently outstanding performances in the various positions that he held throughout his career in the military.

After earning his wings from the Philippine Air Force Flying School in 1972, he was assigned to the 206th Air Transport Squadron, 205th Composite Wing at the Nichols Air Base in Pasay City, where he piloted the C-47 Gooney Bird. He finished the C-47 Pilot Qualification Course from the same training unit, then served as instructor pilot at the 205th Composite Wing for 4 years.

In June 1976, General Santillan was assigned to the National Intelligence Security Agency (NISA). Later that year, he was sent as one the Philippine Air Force’s contingents to take the Allied Officer Family Course and Microfilming Course at the Air University, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, USA. The following year, he took his Squadron Officer Course (SOC) and Academic Instructor Course (AIC), once again at Maxwell Air Force Base and graduated with distinction.

Upon returning to the country, he held several important positions at NISA such as Branch Manager and Assistant Director of the Information System Division (ISD). He was also designated as the Operations Officer of Task Force “Salaan.”

In 1981, he became the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations of the Presidential Security Command in Malacañang. Four years after, he was designated as the Battalion Commander of the 1st Security Battalion of the PSC. In 1983, he also took the Security Intelligence Officers Course at the National Intelligence Training Center (NITC) in Fort Bonifacio, Makati.

He first saw action at the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City on March 1986 when he was assigned to the Military Intelligence Group (MIG) 23, Intelligence Service Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP). During his assignment with ISAFP, he pursued higher learning in the field of intelligence and took the Advance Intelligence Officer Course at the Special Intelligence Training School, Fort Bonifacio, Makati. In the same year, he successfully hurdled his Command and General Staff Course (CGSC) at Fort Bonifacio, Makati.

After more than one year of assignment at GHQ, he went back to his mother unit, the Philippine Air Force and became the Special Project Officer of the Philippine Air Force Flying School (PAFFS), 100th Training Wing based in Fernando Air Base, Lipa City. From 1987 to 1989, he served as the Director for Comptrollership (W-6), then as the Director for Operations (W-3) of the 100th Training Wing.

His first PAF higher headquarters assignment was at the Office of the Assistant Chief of Air Staff for Operations (A-3) as the Director for Manpower and Management in February 1989. After 2 months, he was drafted as a member of the Committee on National Defense, Liaison Office for Legislative Affairs (LOLA) in GHQ.

In November 1991, he finished his Helicopter Pilot Training Course at the 205th Helicopter Wing based in Villamor Air Base, Pasay City. After earning his helicopter qualification, he served as the Director for Intelligence (W-2) for 3 months, then as the Director for Operations (W-3) of the 205th Helicopter Wing for another six months.

In February 1992, he was recalled back to HPAF and was assigned as Executive Officer of the Office of the Assistant Chief of Air Staff for Personnel (OA-1). In just a short span of time, he was designated as the Assistant Chief of Air Staff for Personnel (A-1) and served for nine months.

In January 1994, he was appointed as the Commander of the Air Force Research and Development Center (AFRDC), the premiere innovators in the Air Force who were responsible for finding new and better ways to improve systems and equipment of the Philippine Air Force.

In December 1995, he served as the Assistant Chief of Air Staff for Intelligence (A-2). After one year in HPAF, he was recalled to GHQ and served as the Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence for one year.

In February 1998, General Santillan conquered the Visayas as the Commanding Officer of CASF VI, 2nd Air Division. The following year, he became the Vice-Commander of Tactical Operations Command and served for eight months.

After the 2nd quarter of the year 1999, General Santillan began holding critical and sensitive positions in the Philippine Air Force thus paving the way for his notable deeds and achievements in the service. Humble and silent in his ways, he always excelled in every endeavor he has taken. These eventually earned him the reputation of being the “Quiet Achiever”.

General Santillan held the reins of the Air Command and Staff College (ACSC) as its Commandant from 16 July to 30 October 1999.

When he was the Commandant of ACSC, he upgraded the quality of research and learning by creating the ACSC Internet Library. Within weeks, ACSC was able to launch its “web page” marking the College’s initial step into the cyber-world. This eventually promoted public awareness on the existence and significance of the College.

Endowed with innovative mind, he made the ambiance of the College and its surroundings conducive to better learning process. He upgraded the ACSC library to further bolster the needs of the students for reference materials. He also renovated the barracks and its facilities to provide the best shelter for the students. Furthermore, he initiated the upgrading of the audio-visual facilities inside the lecture halls and seminar rooms.

General Santillan also developed the Sports and Adventure Training Program (SATP) as an interactive motivational tool for the students and personnel of ACSC. During his term as Commandant, he also upgraded the ACSC Curricula for the Squadron Officer Course (SOC) and the Basic Air Force Officer Course (BAFOC) by making them more abreast with the current situation internationally.

His became the Wing Commander of the 410th Maintenance Wing in Clark Air Base, Pampanga on 31 October 1999. Manifesting the rare qualities of resourcefulness, audacity and judicious use of resources, General Santillan pushed beyond the utilization of scarce resources, and successfully accomplished the rehabilitation of one (1) UH-1H and one (1) T41-D that addressed the aircraft requirements of the Philippine Air Force in tactical as well as in training operations. He also forged the repair of four (4) T-53 L13B engines.

During his term as Wing Commander of 410MW, he successfully completed the rehabilitation of Building 7703, which houses millions of pesos worth of aircraft spare parts. Moreover, he paved the way for the construction of a hydraulic test stand house, test cell canopy and the renovation of the 410th MW Conference Room.

With his forward-looking style in maintaining safe and high operational status of aircraft, a team of technicians were provided to various tactical and flying units to conduct Non Destructive Inspections (NDI) of C-130s, OV-10, N-22, T-41, and UH-1H fuselage to determine integral part deformity. In the same endeavor, four (4) weight and balance and symmetry checks of various aircraft were performed. He also initiated the repair and repainting of eleven (11) static display aircraft at the PAF Museum.

With General Santillan’s efforts particularly in the rehabilitation of aircraft and repair of their components, a total savings amounting to P23, 828, 440.00 benefited not only the Philippine Air Force but the Philippine government as well.

As Wing Commander of the 220th Airlift Wing in Benito Ebuen Air Base, Lapu-lapu City from 31 July 2000 to 09 November 2000, he quickly reset his focus in conducting prompt and safe tactical airlift in support to the transportation requirements of the AFP especially during the Jolo crisis. Barely 74 days with this Wing, he attained a high operational readiness of all air assets of the 220th Airlift Wing. The Wing tallied a total of 573 sorties, airlifted 21,872 passengers and 1,447,810 pounds of cargoes. He opened the possibilities for professional skills enhancement with 114 students satisfactorily completing various educational and training programs of the Wing. Under his supervision, the Wing developed four (4) engine dollies and designed a C-130 hydraulic simulator, which was very useful for the engine build-up of the C-130’s.

For all the changes and improvements that General Santillan initiated, the 220th Airlift Wing found itself elevated to a higher ground with its new set of culture of excellence and awareness in civil responsibility.

From 10 October 2000 to 09 November 2001, General Santillan became the Commander of the Tactical Operations Command, also stationed in Benito Ebuen Air Base, Lapu-lapu City.

Demonstrating outstanding flair for tactical command, General Santillan established the first Military Video Conferencing in the Visayas and Mindanao. Furthermore, he provided various TOG’s with computers to enhance their communication system as routine reports became securely sent via the Internet, thus allowing swift relay of reports and vital information.

General Santillan personally guided the efforts of the Tactical Operations Command towards his pursuit of Clean and Green Program. He initiated the painting of trees and hedges, daily cleanings of streets and regular tree-planting activities.

Under his leadership, the Tactical Operations Command became effective in the conduct of its various air operations. He was able to establish the Air Force as a vital component in the successive battles in Mindanao, especially during the height of the Abu Sayyaf and MILF terrorist activities.

After 13 months of as commander of the Tactical Operations Command, General Santillan returned to Manila, the place where he spent most of his childhood, to become second in command of the Philippine Air Force.

As Vice Commander of the Philippine Air Force, he held the chairmanship of several major boards of the Air Force such as the PAF Modernization Board, the PAF Doctrines Board and the PAF Promotions Board. He oversaw the processing of key acquisitions and material upgrades, the development of the PAF Basic Doctrine, and the career development program of PAF officers.

General Santillan engineered the creation of the Air University Alumni Association of the Philippines Air Force. He envisage the AUAA to add value of the knowledge and skills that are essential to developing air power advocates by offering services to the Air Command and Staff College and the NCO School.

To date, he has over 43 awards and decorations. Notable of these awards are six (6) Distinguished Service Star, two (2) Golden Aviator Awards, eight (8) Military Merit Medals, two (2) Silver Wings Medals, six (6) Military Commendation Medals and the distinguished PAF Gold Wing Award.

General Santillan’s military and civilian training includes the SOC at Maxwell Air Force Base in Alabama, USA; Turbofan Maintenance Course in Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Pilot Simulator Flight Training at San Antonio Texas, USA; and Master of Defense Studies at the University of New South Wales, Australia. He is also a graduate of Systems Analysis Design and Programming and a degree of Masters in Business Administration from the Ateneo de Manila University.

Lieutenant General Nestor Reyes Santillan, 27th Commanding General of the Philippine Air Force, is happily married to Mrs. Enya G Santillan and blessed with four children Emmanuel, Enrico, Patricia and Ashley.