COMMODORE JOEL SARSIBAN GARCIA PCG, Ph. D, H.D, Al-Haj is a graduate of the Philippine Merchant Marine Academy (PMMA) and took up Bachelor of Science in Marine Transportation, major in Navigational Science and is currently taking up Bachelor of Laws, Facultad De Derecho Civil, Royal & Pontifical at the University of Santo Tomas. He is a Doctor of Philosophy in Public Administration and a Doctor of Humanities. He is also a holder of Masters of Science Degree in Maritime Safety Administration (Msc. MSA) from the World Maritime University, Malmo, Sweden; Master in Shipping and Business Management (MSBM), PMMA and a licensed Master Mariner. Presently, he is the Officer-In-Charge of the Philippine Coast Guard.

In addition to his current position, he is the National Director of the National Coast Watch Center (NCWC) and Commander of the Coast Guard Education and Training Command (CGETC).  He likewise commanded major units of the PCG. Among these are: Coast Guard Weapons, Communications, Electronics and Information System Command (CGWCEIS); Coast Guard District National Capital Region – Central Luzon (CGDNCR-CL) ; Marine Environmental Protection Command (MEPCOM); Coast Guard District Bicol and Port State Control Office, Coast Guard Station Manila. He was also entrusted with positions in the PCG such as Assistant Chief of Staff for Personnel (CG-1),for vessel safety (CG-8), Marine Environmental Protection (CG-9); Flag Secretary for HPCG, Public Information Officer, student officer to Sweden, Training Officer, Course Director and Admin/Logistics Officer.

He commanded three Coast Guard Search and Rescue Vessels which are the primary ship for operations of the Coast Guard namely: BRP Pampanga (SARV 003) where he earned the most coveted Command-At-Sea-Badge, BRP Kalinga (AE-89) and BRP Palawan (PG-64).

Commo Garcia had advance coast guard training on courses such as the Marine Environmental Protection in the Korean Research and Development Institute (KORDI) in Ansan, South Korea and Instructor Course on International Maritime Law Enforcement at the United States Coast Guard (USCG). He attended seminars abroad concerning safety of life at sea and protection of the marine environment in Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Singapore, London, Germany, Canada, Indonesia, Japan, Hongkong and Norway respectively.

His other government service designations include: Commander of the Philippine Maritime Security Forces during the Papal visit and Task Group Maritime Security for APEC Meetings 2015; Commander of the Special Task Force Sagip, For the successful release of two (2) PCG Kidnapped Victims  in Sulu; currently the Chairman of Technical Working Group (TWG) on the Concept of Operations (CONOPS), National Coast Watch Council (NCWC), Office of the President and Technical Working Group (TWG) on Uniformed Protocol on Maritime Actions (UPMA), National Coast Watch Council (NCWC), Office of the President; Exercise Director of the Marine Pollution Prevention Exercise (MARPOLEX) between the Philippines and Indonesia; Chairperson of Technical Committee on Islamic Religious Education, Commission of Higher Education (CHED); Chief of Staff of the Office of the Undersecretary for Transportation (Department of Transportation and Communications) among others.

Fully decorated, Commo Garcia has earned various awards and decorations from the PCG and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in recognition of his outstanding performances in the Coast Guard and Naval service. Some of the awards he received are the (5) Coast Guard Legions of Honor and Ribbon with Degree of Maginoo, (2) Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal, (2) Coast Guard Superior Achievement Medal, (1) Coast Guard Outstanding Achievement Medal, (1) Coast Guard Gawad sa Kaunlaran Medal, (2) Coast Guard Merit Medal, (1) Coast Guard Commendation Medal, (1) Coast Guard Civic Action Ribbon, (1) Command At Sea Badge, (1) Mepcom Marpol Inspector’s Eligibility Badge and PCG Eligibility Badge, (1) Military Merit Medal with First Bronze Spearhead Device, (1) Military merit Medal with Third Bronze Anahaw Leaf, (1) Military merit medal with Second Bronze Anahaw Leaf, (1) Military merit medal with First Bronze Anahaw Leaf, (2) Military Merit Medal, (1) Military Commendation Medal with First Equilateral Triangle, (1) Military Commendation Medal, (1) Military Civic Action Medal,  (1) Mindanao-Sulu Campaign Medal & Ribbon, (1) Anti-Dissidence Campaign Ribbon, (1) Disaster, Relief & Rehabilitation Ribbon, (1) Visayan Campaign Medal & Ribbon, (1) Luzon Campaign Medal & Ribbon, (1) Award Of The Philippine Navy Surface Warfare Operations Badge and (1) Combat Badge “Kagitingan”, (1) Award of Excellence in Humanitarianism from the Secretary of Foreign Affairs and many more.