QUEZON CITY, (PIA) --Army Commanding General Lt. Gen. Romeo S. Brawner Jr. assumed as the 60th Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines in a Change of Command and Retirement Ceremony, presided by President of the Philippines and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on July 21, 2023 at General Headquarters, Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

Lt. Gen. Brawner, prior to his assumption, is the 65th Commanding General, Philippine Army, from December 10, 2021, to July 21, 2023.

He also held various key positions such as the Commander of the 4th Infantry Division in 2021; Commandant of the Cadets in the Philippine Military Academy in 2019; Commander of the Civil-Military Operations Regiment in 2018; Brigade Commander of the 103rd Infantry Brigade in 2018; Chief of Staff of the 6th Infantry Division in 2015; Spokesperson of the Eastern Mindanao Command in 2009; and Army Chief Public Affairs in 2008.

Lt. Gen. Brawner is a graduate of the Philippine Military Academy "Makatao" Class of 1989 and acquired his three Master's Degrees – Master's in Information Management from the Ateneo de Manila University, Master's in Business Administration from the Asian Institute of Technology in Thailand and the European School of Management, Oxford, United Kingdom, and Master's in Strategic Studies from the United States Army War College (USAWC).

Lt. Gen. Brawner extended his gratitude to all partners and stakeholder for supporting the AFP, highlighting that security and peace is a collective responsibility.

"Finally, to our soldiers, marines, sailors, airmen, and civilian human resource, I ask you to remain faithful to the oath that we all took when we entered the service - bearing true faith and allegiance to the Republic of the Philippines. Our mission is to ensure that this administration successfully governs our nation, secures our peace, and protects our territory at all costs," the new CSAFP said. (afp/pia-ncr)