Major Jo-Ar Herrera of the Philippine Army recently took center stage at the 6th Annual Tobias Leadership Conference, held from March 3 to 5 at Indiana University in Indianapolis, USA. An esteemed instructor at the Philippine Military Academy’s Department of Management and Social Sciences, Major Herrera captivated the audience with his groundbreaking research titled “An Organizational Leadership Assessment of the Philippine Military Academy.”
His servant-leadership study using the tools of Robert K Greenleaf earned high praise from Jean Plunkett, the program coordinator for the Randall L. Tobias Center for Leadership Excellence, who described it as a standout study that has already opened doors for future collaborations on global leadership development initiatives. This recognition marks an important milestone for PMA, showcasing its commitment to becoming the nation’s premier leadership institution, a goal embedded in the PMA Roadmap 2015.
Major Herrera’s journey began at the University of the Philippines Baguio (UPB) in 2010, where his research was nominated by Prof. Erlinda Palaganas of the Institute of Management. His study takes a deep dive into the organizational environment and leadership practices within PMA, using Laub’s model to assess how military officers from various branches, ranks, and units view leadership at the academy.
What truly sets his work apart is its exploration of the complex relationship between formal leadership practices and the informal roles embraced by the Officer Corps. Herrera’s research doesn’t just examine leadership – it opens a dialogue about how leadership is lived and breathed within the military.
Originally developed as a seminar paper for his Master of Arts in Social and Development Studies at UPB’s College of Social Sciences, Major Herrera’s work is now gaining international attention. His presentation at the Tobias Leadership Conference is not just a personal achievement but a moment of pride for the entire Philippine Military Academy as it steps closer to its vision of leadership excellence.
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