MANILA - Veteran pilot Captain Dexter Comendador has been named the president and chief executive officer of AirAsia's Philippine unit, the airline said Wednesday.

The airline said Comendador, a cum laude graduate of the Philippine Military Academy, has over 33 years of experience in the aviation industry and is a recipient of 26 service medals, including two Gold Crosses for bravery and successful combat operations.

Comendador served as combat pilot, flight commander, and pilot instructor in the Philippine Air Force for eight years before he became a commercial pilot in 1992, AirAsia said.

He joined AirAsia in 2011 and served as chief pilot for operations, director of flight operations, chief operating officer, it added.

"He is a Filipino hero pilot, a homegrown talent with the extraordinary ability to connect and inspire people and ideas capable of driving change and innovation in the Philippines," AirAsia Group CEO Tony Fernandes said.

Comendador replaced Joy Cañeba as interim chief executive officer in July 2016.