Robert Empedrad

Robert Arugay Empedrad (born February 3, 1964) is a retired Philippine Navy admiral who served as the Administrator of the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) under the Duterte administration. He previously served as the Flag Officer-in-Command of the Philippine Navy from 2017 to 2020. He is a graduate of the Philippine Military Academy "Sinagtala" Class of 1986.

Early life and education Robert Empedrad first studied at Tuguegarao North Central School, and at Cagayan National High School. He also studied Civil Engineering at) in Baguio and applied in the Philippine Military Academy in 1982 and graduated in 1986. He also earned a Master in Business Administration, at the Philippine Christian University, Dasmariñas, Cavite, and took the US Naval Staff Course at US Naval War College, in Newport, Rhode Island, as well as took the Senior Executive Course for National University and Senior Strategic Leadership Programme at the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom. He also took up various courses such as the International Riverine and Coastal Operations at Naval Amphibious Base Coronado at San Diego, California; the Instructor’s Training Course at Naval Special Warfare Center in Coronado, California; the Hermeneutics and Bible Study Course and the Christian Teachers Training Course, both in Las Piñas City.

Military career Throughout his career, Empedrad commanded various ships and naval task forces in the Philippine Navy, in leading ships like the , BRP Abraham Campo, , , , and task forces in the Naval Forces Western Mindanao like the Naval Task Group 62.1, the Naval Task Group 62.2, and the Naval Task Group 72.

As Philippine Navy chief, he redesignated and downgraded the roles of the Navy's ships in order to prepare for the navy's modernization, as the navy awaits the delivery of the upcoming ships and retired 4 vintage ships: the BRP Rajah Humabon (PS-11), the BRP Sultan Kudarat (PS-22), BRP Cebu (PS-28), and the BRP Quezon (PS-70), along with two gunboats: the BRP Bienvenido Salting (PC-112), and the BRP Nicolas Mahusay (PC-119), which drew criticisms, due to the decreasing number of ships being used and being retired, despite having only a token of ships to fulfill the navy's mandate. During his term, the navy succeeded in acquiring the BRP Conrado Yap (PS-39), 6 units the Multipurpose Assault Craft MK. 3 equipped with Spike MLS ER Launchers and Mini-Typhoon Weapon Stations, 8 units of the KAAV7A1 Assault Amphibious Vehicles, 5 TC-90 patrol aircraft, and 43 new vehicles. He also oversaw the donation of 4 Type 966Y class patrol boats from China. He also led overall naval operations during the 2020 Taal Volcano Eruption. He retired from military service on February 3, 2020, after reaching the mandatory military age of 56, and was replaced by then-Commander of the Philippine Fleet, Rear Admiral Giovanni Bacordo. He was appointed by President Rodrigo Duterte as the new administrator of the Maritime Industry Authority on March 2, 2020.

Controversy In August 2024, Antonio Trillanes filed with the DOJ plunder under Republic Act No. 7080 and graft cases against Rodrigo Duterte, Bong Go, and Empedrad regarding the allegedly anomalous P16-billion contract of two frigates BRP Jose Rizal (FF-150) and BRP Antonio Luna (FF-151) with HD Hyundai Heavy Industries. He denied the accusation for it was signed two years after his retirement.

Awards Left Side:

Right Side:

1st row Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation People Power I Unit Citation People Power II Unit Citation

Badges and Other Awards:

Gintong Medalya For Government Service Of The Dangal Ng Lahing Cagayano

Personal life He is married to Blessilda Empedrad, and they have a son, Jelome.