MAJOR GENERAL STEVE D CRESPILLO PA is the 36th Vice Commander of Philippine Army (PA). He assumed his post on 20 January 2023. Prior to his present assignment, he was the Commander of the 501st Infantry (Valiant) Brigade (501B), 5th Infantry Division, PA.
He decided to pursue a military career when he entered the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) in 1985 and earned his Bachelor of Science Degree, as a member of PMA “BIGKIS-LAHI” Class of 1990.
After his graduation, he held various positions and sharpen his capabilities and competencies as a military officer. He rose through the ladder of combat positions, starting as a Platoon Leader of Bravo Company, 5th Infantry Battalion, 1st Infantry (Tabak) Division (1ID), PA. He also became the Executive Officer of the same company for two years.
In 1993, MAJOR GENERAL STEVE D CRESPILLO served as the Battalion Intelligence Officer of the 4th Infantry Battalion, 1ID, PA. The following year, he became the Commander of Bravo Company.
Early in 1995, he was reassigned to the Presidential Security Group, where he served in a series of leadership posts as a Security Officer for six years. In 2001, he became Commander of Bravo Company in the Philippine Peacekeeping Battalion. The following year, he was deployed as a part of the United Nations Guard Contingent in Iraq, where he served as a Team Leader and Zone Warden.
Upon his return to the Philippines in 2003, MAJOR GENERAL STEVE D CRESPILLO held a series of administrative responsibilities at the General Headquarters (GHQ), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) for seven years. From 2003 to 2007, he served consecutively as the Chief, Research and Special Studies Branch of Plans and Programs Division at the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Civil-Military Operations, J7 (OJ7); the Chief Command Information Branch of The Public Affairs Division at the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, OJ3; and the Chief, Civil Affairs Division, OJ7. From 2007 to 2010, he was assigned to the National Development Support Command, AFP, where he served consecutively as the Assistant Chief of Staff of Unified Command Staff for Logistics, J4, and as the Assistant Chief of Staff of Unified Command Staff for Plans, J5.
In 2010, he was reassigned to the 5th Infantry (Star) Division (5ID), PA and briefly served as the Acting Assistant Chief of Staff for Operations, G3 of the said Division, and then as the Commander of the 54th Infantry Battalion, 5ID, PA. In 2013, returned to the GHQ and Headquarters Service Command, AFP as Assistant Chief of Staff for Operations, G3. Later, he became the Head of the Research Special Studies Center of the AFP Command and General Staff College.
MAJOR GENERAL STEVE D CRESPILLO returned once again to the field for the third time in 2016, this time joining the Western Mindanao Command, AFP, where he briefly served as the Chief of the United Command Staff. In 2017, he became the Chief of Staff of the 6th Infantry (Kampilan) Division, PA. Two years later, he became the Division's Assistant Division Commander for Reservist and Retiree Affairs. He returned to 5ID, PA in late 2020 to become the Commander of the 501st Inf Bde, 5ID, PA.
Throughout his military career, he pursued various education and training programs and courses that equipped him with the knowledge and skills essential in the performance of his duties. He was a Dean's Lister of his class in 1986 at the PMA. He received letters of commendations from his School Commandants for having a rating of 90.53 in the Infantry Officer Basic Course and 93.79 in the Infantry Officer Advance Course, where he ranked sixth in his class. He was also in the top four (4) of his class in the Special Forces Operations Course and the VIP Protection Course.
Aside from military schoolings, MAJOR GENERAL CRESPILLO also has a Master's degree in Development Management from the Asian Institute of Management, where his team was awarded as the Best Team in Rapid Area Assessment. He also earned a Diploma in Purchasing and Supply Management from the De La Salle College of St Benilde.
His valuable accomplishments were recognized through numerous awards and decorations which include two (2) Distinguished Service Stars, three (3) Bronze Cross Medals, two (2) Gawad sa Kaunlaran Medals, Military Merit Medals, Military Commendation Medals, the UN Service Medal and Ribbon, the Long Service Medal, the Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao Anti-Dissidence Medals, Disaster Relief Operation Medals, the Civic Action Medal, the Combat Commander "Kagitingan" Badge, and numerous Letters of Commendation and Honors from both the military and civilian sectors.
MAJOR GENERAL CRESPILLO is a member of the International Movement of Development Managers (IMDM) for as well as the PMA Alumni Association Incorporated. In his spare time, he plays basketball, volleyball, softball, table tennis, judo, and wrestling. He also loves singing and listening to music.
He was born on 15 September 1967 in Kiangan, Ifugao. He is happily married to Attorney Sarah Creencia Crespillo and they are blessed with two (2) children: Sean Coleen and Shane Caitlin
