Profile of Dadan Hindayana, Who Was Arrested by the Attorney General’s Office

JAKARTA, Jakartaweekly.com—Dadan Hindayana has come under national scrutiny after the former head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) was detained by the Attorney General’s Office over alleged corruption in the management of the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program.

Dadan became widely known to the public after being entrusted to lead the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), the institution responsible for implementing various government strategic programs aimed at improving public nutrition, including the Free Nutritious Meals program.

According to information published on the BGN website, Dadan Hindayana is an academic and bureaucrat with a strong background in agriculture, education, and human resource development. He has served as Head of the National Nutrition Agency since 2024.

Born in 1967, Dadan pursued his higher education at Bogor Agricultural University (IPB). He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in agriculture in 1990 and was recognized as the top graduate of the Department of Plant Pests and Diseases.

His academic career later took him to Germany. Dadan earned a doctoral degree (Dr. rer. Hort) from Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz University Hannover between 1997 and 2000, specializing in Applied Entomology. During his doctoral studies, he produced several scientific publications that appeared in internationally reputable journals.

Since 1992, Dadan has served as a lecturer in the Department of Plant Protection at IPB. His extensive experience in higher education became the foundation of a career that later led him to hold a number of strategic positions.

At IPB, he served as Secretary of the Office for the Preparation of IPB’s Autonomy Implementation from 2001 to 2002. His managerial career continued as Director of the Directorate of Institutional Development and Supporting Business Enterprises from 2003 to 2008, and as Acting Director of the Directorate of Cooperation from 2007 to 2008.

In addition to his work at IPB, Dadan chaired the Banau College of Agricultural Entrepreneurship (STPK Banau) in West Halmahera from 2014 to 2022. He was also actively involved as a consultant for various ministries and government institutions.

This combination of academic, bureaucratic, and institutional development experience became a key asset when the government appointed him Head of the National Nutrition Agency in 2024.

Throughout his career, Dadan received numerous honors, including the Satyalancana Karya Satya X Award in 2007, the Satyalancana Karya Satya XX Award in 2019, and the Satyalancana Karya Satya XXX Award in 2023, all conferred by the President of the Republic of Indonesia in recognition of his service as a public official.

He also received recognition from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations in 1992, the National Integrated Pest Management Program Award from the Minister of National Development Planning/Bappenas in 1994, and several community honors, including Honorary Citizen of West Halmahera Regency and Honorary Citizen of Sunan Drajat Islamic Boarding School in Lamongan.