Leopoldo Laroya

Laroya was named as the chief of staff in the PCG Headquarters, before being commander of the Maritime Security and Law Enforcement Command, and the Coast Guard Education, Training and Doctrine Command, where he was promoted to rear admiral in 2018, before being named as the commander of the Maritime Safety Services Command. Laroya was promoted to vice admiral in 2019 where he was named as the Deputy Commandant for Operations, before being named as the Commandant of the Philippine Coast Guard, and was promoted to the rank of admiral in November 2021. Laroya retired from service on February 10, 2021, and was replaced by Vice Admiral Eduardo D. Fabricante as the Coast Guard's Officer in Charge.

Laroya was born in Quezon City on February 11, 1966, and served as a second child among three male siblings. Laroya came from a military family, wherein both his grandfather and his father are graduates from the Philippine Military Academy (PMA). Laroya's grandfather, Brigadier General Nicanor Velarde Sr., graduated the PMA in 1929 and served the United States Army, before being moved to the Philippine Army, and served during World War 2, while his father, Brigadier General Protacio Laroya, graduated in 1956, and served the Philippine Constabulary. His mother, Elenita Laroya, also worked at the Philippine Veterans Bank and the AFP Retirement and Separation Benefits System. Laroya studied at the Colegio San Agustin – Makati, the Don Bosco Technical Institute of Makati, and became an exchange student in Comfrey, Minnesota, where he finished high school, and became an engineering student at the University of the Philippines Diliman before he entered the PMA in 1983, and graduated as a member of the PMA "Maringal" class of 1988. Laroya graduated with honors as he was in 12th place within his classmates, and was awarded the Engineering Sciences Award.

'Leopoldo "Leo" Velarde Laroya' is a Filipino Admiral who served as the 28th Commandant of the Philippine Coast Guard. Prior to his promotion as commandant, he also served as the Deputy Commandant for Operations, and led three commands: the Maritime Safety Services Command, the Coast Guard Education, Training and Doctrine Command and the Maritime Security and Law Enforcement Command.