A Philippine Military Academy (PMA) instructor has brought the institution’s leadership development efforts to the international stage after presenting his research at a prestigious conference in the United States.
Major Jo-ar Herrera (Infantry) PA, a faculty member of the PMA’s Department of Management and Social Sciences, presented his study titled “An Organizational Leadership Assessment of the Philippine Military Academy” during the 6th Annual Tobias Leadership Conference, held March 3-5, 2011, at Indiana University in Indianapolis, Indiana.
The Tobias Leadership Conference, organized by the Randall L. Tobias Center for Leadership Excellence, gathers leadership scholars and practitioners from around the world to share cutting-edge research and best practices.
Jean Plunkett, program coordinator of the Tobias Center, commended Major Herrera for delivering an “outstanding study” that has opened doors for future international collaboration.
“Major Herrera has presented an outstanding study that allowed him to partner and collaborate for future leadership development and undertakings around the world,” Plunkett said.
The invitation to present at the conference marks a significant milestone for the Philippine Military Academy, reflecting the institution’s ongoing efforts to establish itself as the country’s premier leadership school, a vision enshrined in the PMA Roadmap 2015.
Major Herrera’s research, which applies a well-established leadership assessment model to the unique context of the military academy, traces its origins to the University of the Philippines-Baguio. The study was originally nominated by Professor Erlinda Palaganas of the UPB Institute of Management from among various research studies conducted at the university in 2010.
The paper is based on Major Herrera’s seminar paper of the same title, which was previously presented to and approved by the graduate faculty of the Master of Arts in Social and Development Studies program at the UPB College of Social Sciences.
His research utilized Laub’s organizational leadership assessment model to evaluate the general organizational environment and leadership practices within the PMA. The study gathered perspectives from military officers across different branches of service, ranks, and assignments within the academy. It also explored the relationship between formal leadership practices and the informal roles assumed by the Officer Corps.
The presentation at Indiana University not only showcased Philippine research on military leadership development but also positioned the PMA for potential partnerships with international leadership institutions.
For the PMA, the achievement underscores its commitment to advancing leadership scholarship and practice, aligning with its broader vision of producing transformational leaders for the military and nation.
Major Herrera’s research work was utilized for the PMA’s cadet leadership development program, eventually becoming one of the leadership frameworks introduced in the academy..
