Pormal nang nag-assume bilang ika-56th AFP chief of staff si Lt. Gen. Jose Faustino, matapos magretiro sa serbisyo si retired General Cirilito Sobejana kahapon, July 31, 2021.
Bago pa ang appointment ni Faustino bilang pinuno ng Sandatahang Lakas ng Pilipinas, siya ang kasalukuyang commander ng bagong buo na Joint Task Force Mindanao, matapos maging Acting Commanding General ng Philippine Army.
Si Faustino ay miyembro ng Philippine Military Academy “Maringal” Class of 1988.
Naging Battalion at Brigade Commander sa Basilan at Sulu sa Western Mindanao.
Dati rin siyang commander ng Eastern Mindanao na may sakop sa apat na rehiyon ang Regions 10,11,12 at 13 at commander ng 10th Infantry Division na may sakop sa Regions 11 at 12.
Pinamunuan din ni Gen Faustino ang 7th Scout Ranger Company, 35th Infantry Battalion at 501st Infantry Brigade.
Kabilang sa ipinagmamalaki ni Faustino ay ang pagbuwag nila sa anim na Pulang Bagani Commands at apat na Guerilla Fronts ng NPA sa loob lamang ng isang taon.
Bilang commander naman ng Joint Task Force Mindanao, pinangunahan din ni Faustino ang pagbuo ng Mindanao Security and Stability Plan para sa pag-synchronize sa peace efforts ng Eastern at Western Mindanao Commands para panatilihin ang peace and stability sa buong Mindanao.
“It is my belief that the true measure of a Filipino soldier is not in the badge or rank we wear, not about the position we attain or appointed to. It is the loyalty and integrity of every man and woman serving the AFP that will keep us going in the right direction,” pahayag ni Gen Faustino.
Dagdag pa ni Faustino, “as I embark on this new journey with each and every one of you belonging to Team AFP, allow me to say to every soldier, airman, sailor, and marine– let us stay positive on the course ahead, bind together as one family, commit with open minds, participate actively, work towards the attainment of our shared goals, develop good ideas and innovate to suit our domain.”
