Biographical Note

Secretary-General Appoints Major General Natalio C. Ecarma of Philippines

Head of Mission, Force Commander of United Nations Disengagement Force

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today appointed Major General Natalio C. Ecarma of the Philippines as Head of Mission and Force Commander of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF).  Major General Ecarma will succeed Major General Wolfgang Jilke of Austria.  The Secretary-General is grateful to Major General Jilke for his outstanding service and leadership of UNDOF over the past three years.

Major General Ecarma is currently serving as Deputy Commandant, Philippine Marine Corps and Concurrent Commander, Marine Forces Southern Philippines.  He will bring to his new position extensive and wide-ranging command experience.

Prior to his present assignment, Major General Ecarma held important command positions, including as Combat and Service Support Brigade Commander and Marine Brigade Commander.

Major General Ecarma graduated from the Philippines Military Academy in 1981.  He earned a master’s degree in military studies and attended the Command and Staff Course at Marine Corp University, Quantico, Virginia, United States.  In addition, he earned a master’s degree in national security administration at the National Defence College of the Philippines.  Major General Ecarma also completed several military courses in various institutions.

Born in 1955, Major General Ecarma is married with two sons.

* *** *

For information media • not an official record