PCG touts first two-star female officer

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Sunday celebrated a historic milestone with the appointment of its first-ever female two-star general, coinciding with the culmination of National Women’s Month.

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. approved the promotion of Rear Admiral Mitzie Silva-Campo on 25 March 2025. Silva-Campo is scheduled to take the oath of office before Department of Transportation (DoTr) Secretary Vince Dizon on 31 March 2025.

Silva-Campo said she views leadership as both a privilege and a responsibility — one that is earned through trust, built on hard work and proven through service.

“Because at the end of the day, it’s never about the rank. It is about how well you lead, how much you serve, and how deeply you care,” she said.

In October 2021, then-Commodore Silva-Campo made history as the first female one-star general among Coast Guard general line officers. She was among the top graduates of the Coast Guard Officers Course Class-1 Charlie-“Makagitaw.”

She earned her Juris Doctor degree from Cor Jesu College in Digos City and completed her Master of Science in Maritime Affairs, specializing in Maritime Law and Policy, at the World Maritime University in Malmö, Sweden (Class of 2009).

Her expertise was further honed through international training programs, including the JICA Ship Safety Inspection Course in Yokohama, Japan (2011) and the Law of the Sea Course at ANCORS, Australia (2021).

She began her career as a commissioned officer in the Armed Forces of the Philippines before transitioning to the PCG.

Within the PCG, she has held several key positions, including her designation as the first female inspector general of the Coast Guard Inspector general-internal affairs service, Coast Guard adjutant and commander of the Coast Guard Doctrine, Development, and Research Command.

She also served as the Deputy Chief of Coast Guard Staff for Maritime Security Law Enforcement and DCCS for Education and Training, as well as Operations Officer of the then-Coast Guard Operating Forces.

Additionally, Silva-Campo was seconded to the Department of Transportation and Communications, where she served as Chief of Staff to the Undersecretary for Operations.

She was later assigned to the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships in Asia — Information Sharing Centre (ReCAAP-ISC) in Singapore, where she served for more than three years.

PCG Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan congratulated Silva-Campo on her historic achievement, calling her a true asset to the maritime sector.

“She stands as proof that a woman can rise to lead with excellence, break barriers, and help move a nation forward,” he said.