This document outlines a presentation titled "Protecting the National Interest through a Responsive Air Power Strategy" which will discuss how to devise an air power strategy to support the Philippine government's policy of upholding territorial claims. The presentation aims to identify key Philippine national interests and the challenges they face from an air power perspective given the country's archipelagic geography. It will also determine the objectives and strategic elements needed in an ideal air power strategy for an archipelagic state and examine the challenges facing the Philippine Air Force in implementing such a strategy. The speaker, COL RAUL DEL ROSARIO PAF, has extensive experience as a fighter pilot and commander with the Philippine Air Force.

1. Topic 1: “Protecting the National Interest through a Responsive Air Power Strategy”
With the National Government’s determination to uphold our territorial claims, the primary
challenge to the Armed Forces of the Philippines is to devise a strategy to support this policy. Protect-
ing the National Interest through a Responsive Air Power Strategy looks at this issue from the per-
spective of air power strategy as applied to the Philippine geographic make-up. The desired learning
objectives for the audience of this topic are:
1. Identify key PH national interests and understand the challenges to said interests in relation
to air power in defense of an archipelago;
2. Determine the primary objectives and strategic components/elements of an ideal Air Power
Strategy to defend an archipelagic state;
3. Examine the challenges the PAF is facing and the direction it needs to go in order to imple-
ment an air power strategy to our archipelago;
4. Discuss the expectations of the PAF from the National government and other stakeholders
vis-à-vis implementation of an effective air power strategy (e.g. support the PAF needs).
COL RAUL L DEL ROSARIO PAF (GSC)
Wing Commander, Air Defense Wing
COL RAUL DEL ROSARIO PAF (GSC) is presently the Wing Commander of Air Defense
Wing. His military career started when he graduated as a member of Philippine Military Academy Ma-
harlika Class of 1984. He then finished military pilot training at the Philippine Air Force Flying School
in 1986 and was assigned as a fighter pilot at the 5th Fighter Wing, in Basa Air Base, Pampanga. This
gave him the opportunity to fly almost every jet aircraft in the PAF inventory. As a member of the PAF
Modernization Program Evaluation Team, he was able to fly various advanced combat aircraft from
other countries. His impressive records and dexterity as a pilot made him the Team Leader of the
Blue Diamonds, the prestigious Air Force Aerial Demonstration Team.
He then assumed various command and staff positions in the premiere line units of the PAF
such as 5th Fighter Wing, 710th Special Operations Wing, and 15th Strike Wing. He later became the
Assistant Chief of Air Staff for Intelligence, A-2.
His academic record was similarly remarkable. He finished his Command and General Staff
Course in Australia and earned a Masters in Defence Studies from the University of Canberra. Colo-
nel Del Rosario is also a recipient of numerous awards namely Distinguished Service Star, Bronze
Cross Medal, Military Merit Medal with Bronze Spearhead Device, and Military Merit Medals. In 2010,
he was selected as one of the Ten Outstanding Philippine Soldiers (TOPS), a distinct recognition
given by the Metrobank Foundation and the Rotary Club of Makati to soldiers whose service to the
nation has been exceptional.