Francisco Ashley L. Acedillo (“Ace”) is a strategy, security, and intelligence professional with more than 25 years of experience across government service, defense, cybersecurity, and public policy. His work focuses on national security, cybersecurity governance, and regional defense cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.
Acedillo currently serves as a technical consultant to the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP). He previously held senior government roles, most recently as Deputy Director General for Cyber and Emerging Threats at the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA), where he led national counterintelligence efforts addressing cybersecurity risks and weapons of mass destruction. He has also served in the private sector as Assistant Vice President for Cybersecurity Strategy and Innovation at PLDT-Smart Communications, Inc.
From 2013 to 2016, Acedillo was a Member of the Philippine House of Representatives during the 16th Congress, where he was recognized as one of the Most Productive Party-List Representatives. During his term, he coauthored legislation that resulted in seven laws, including Republic Act 10844, which established the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT).
His academic and professional training includes programs in cybersecurity policy, intelligence, and aviation security at Harvard University, the University of Cincinnati, the Geneva Centre for Security Policy, and the Estonian Aviation Academy. He is a graduate of the International Security and Intelligence Programme at the University of Cambridge (2025) and the Executive Program on Artificial Intelligence at Mohamed Bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (2024).
A former Philippine Air Force pilot, Acedillo brings operational experience to his strategic work. He is a recipient of the Gold Cross Medal and the Distinguished Aviation Cross, among other military honors. He holds a Master of Management from the Asian Institute of Management and a Bachelor of Science in Management from the Philippine Military Academy.