Brigadier General Palmea is the proud son of Illuru, Rizal, Cagayan where he was born on July 6, 1956. He completed his elementary education from the Illuru Elementary School where he graduated as salutatorian in 1969, and his secondary education from the Saint Francis Academy where he graduated as Valedictorian in 1973. He joined the Philippine Military Academy in 1975, where he graduated in 1979 with the Bachelor of Science Degree, and was commissioned as Second Lieutenant to the regular force of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. He is also a holder of a Masters Degree in Management from the Bicol College in Daraga, Albay in 1998.

Brigadier General Palmea has also completed career and specialized training courses in a variety of fields in the military. He finished the Scout Ranger Course, the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Course, and the basic officer courses in the fields of Intelligence and Ordnance. He also completed his Ordnance Officer Advance Course from the Training and Doctrines Command of the Philippine Army. General Palmea also completed the Overseas Joint Warfare Course from the Australian Defense Force, and the Materiel Acquisition Management Course from the Army Logistics Management Center in Fort Lee Virginia, USA.

Brigadier General Palmea’s vast experience in the military is attributed to the several command and staff positions in the Armed Forces of the Philippines. He commanded the “C” and “D” Companies of 32nd Infantry Battalion in Luuk, Sulu in the early days of his military career. He was a Team Leader, Field Station Commander, and Company Commander of an Intelligence Unit in Luzon from 1986 to 1991. He has also occupied various command and staff positions in the field of logistics. Notable among them are as the Operations Officer (G3) of the Army Support Command (ASCOM), as Commanding Officer of the 5th Forward Service Support Unit in Bicol, as Director for Resource Management, as Commanding Officer of the Research and Development Center, as Chief of Staff, and as the Group Commander of the Logistics Support Group, all of the Army Support Command. He also served as the Commander of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Munitions Control Center, before he was designated as Deputy Commander of the Army Support Command until he was finally appointed as Commander of the Army Support Command on 16 April 2011.

In recognition of dedicated military service, Brigadier General Palmea has earned quite a number of medals, ribbons, and commendations both from the military and civilian sector. He is a recipient of three Distinguished Service Stars, Two Bronze Cross Medals, Twenty Military Medals, four Military Commendation medals, a Plaque of Recognition, and a host of other campaign medals, ribbons, and letters of commendations.

Brigadier General Palmea is happily married to the former Miss Luzviminda Amay of Vigan, Ilocos Sur with whom he is blessed with two daughters, Arvee and Leidi Grace; and a son Raven Carlo.