Jesus Vargas (general)
Jesus Miranda Vargas was a retired Filipino lieutenant general who served as Secretary of National Defense and Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. In his later years, he was the Secretary-General of Southeast Asia Treaty Organization which was based in Bangkok, Thailand.
Early life
Jesus Miranda Vargas was born on March 22, 1905 in Manila to Braulio Vargas and Petrona Miranda.He finished his Bachelor of Science at the Philippine Constabulary Academy in 1929. He also graduated from the Field Artillery School in Fort Sill, Oklahoma in 1940 and the Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas in 1947.
Military career
Vargas was a World War 2 veteran. He served in the Philippine Army from 1937 to 1951.PC, 1930-1935; aide-de-camp to the Philippine President and Commanding Officer, President Guard Battalion, 1943; Executive Officer, Ground Force, 1947-1948; Superintendent, Manila ROTC, 1948-1949; Commander, 5th Battalion Combat Team, 1949–50;
Deputy Chief of Staff, AFP 1950-1951; Vice Chief of Staff, AFP, 1951-1953; Chief of Staff, AFP, 1953-1956; military adviser, Southeast Asia Treaty Organization, 1954-1956; retired Lieutenant General, Armed Forces of the Philippines; Secretary of National Defense, 1957-1959;
Board Chairman, National Waterworks & Sewerage Authority, 1957–59; president, Philippine American Management & Financing Company, 1961–65; Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation, 1962–65; and secretary-general, SEATO, 1965-72.