Benes Z. Aldana is the President of the National Judicial College. He is the former chief trial judge of the United States Coast Guard and has had a distinguished military career of 22 years, retiring in the rank of captain (O-6) and was the first Asian Pacific (Filipino) American chief trial judge in U.S. military history. He is the first Asian Pacific American to chair the ABA Commission on Sexual Orientation & Gender Identity. Aldana has held many leadership positions within the ABA including chair of the ABA Solo, Small Firm and General Practice Division and a member of the House of Delegates. He also previously served in the ABA Commission on Racial & Ethnic Diversity and is the immediate past president of the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association Judicial Council.