Maj. Gen. Brook J. Leonard is the Deputy Commander and Director of Operations, Combined Joint Task Force - Space Operations, Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado, where he initially led the planning and execution of the command’s standup, and currently leads global operational-level planning, fires, and maneuver for United States Space Command to maintain U.S. and allied advantage in space in support of the joint forces and global security.
Prior to assuming his current position, Maj. Gen. Leonard was the Chief of Staff, United States Space Command, where he led the standup of the 11th Combatant Command, from its inception to beyond initial operational capability. He chaired all command boards, oversaw its corporate process and directed the commander's staff. As a general officer, he has also commanded the 56th Fighter Wing, Luke Air Force Base, Arizona, and served as the Director of Air Operations, Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve, the Commander, 321st Air Expeditionary Wing, and the Commander, Task Force - Air, Union III, Baghdad, Iraq where he led a task-organized unit across 11 locations in Iraq and Syria to defeat the Islamic State Group and enable security across Iraq. Additionally, Maj. Gen. Leonard served as the Deputy Commander, 9th Air Expeditionary Task Force, Levant, Union III, Baghdad, Iraq.
Maj. Gen. Leonard entered the Air Force in May 1992 as a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy. He earned his pilot wings through Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training at Sheppard AFB, Texas, and was a distinguished graduate of the F-16 Initial Qualification Course at Luke AFB, Arizona. He has commanded numerous other units including: the 16th Weapons Squadron, USAF Weapons School, Nellis AFB, Nevada; 451st Expeditionary Operations Group, Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan; and the 51st Fighter Wing, Osan Air Base, South Korea. Maj. Gen. Leonard has also served on the Joint Staff as Division Chief, Iran and Levant Division, Deputy Directorate Political-Military Affairs Middle East and was the Senior Military Assistant to the Secretary of the Air Force. He is a command pilot with more than 3,000 flight hours including 576 combat hours.
EDUCATION
1992 Bachelor of Science, Aeronautical Engineering, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.
1998 USAF Weapons School, F-16 Weapons Instructor Course, Nellis Air Force Base, Nev.
1999 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2005 Master of Military Operational Art and Science, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2006 Master of Airpower Art and Science, School of Advanced Air and Space Studies, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2010 Master of Strategic Studies, U.S. Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pa.
2016 Enterprise Leadership Seminar, Kenan-Flagler Business School, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
2017 Joint Force Air Component Commander Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2017 Joint Flag Officer Warfighting Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2018 CAPSTONE National Defense University, Washington, D.C.
2022 Continuous Improvement Process for Executives, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
ASSIGNMENTS
1. May 1992–December 1993, Student, Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training, Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas
2. January 1994–February 1995, Student, F-16 Initial Qualification Course, Luke AFB, Ariz.
3. February 1995–July 1996, Assistant Weapons Officer, 74th Fighter Squadron, Pope AFB, N.C.
4. July 1996–July 1998, Flight Commander, 36th FS, Osan Air Base, South Korea
5. July 1998–December 1998, Student, USAF Weapons School Instructor Course, Nellis AFB, Nev.
6. January 1999–July 1999, Chief of Weapons, 36th FS, Osan AB, South Korea
7. August 1999–January 2002, Wing Weapons Officer, 35th Fighter Wing, Misawa AB, Japan
8. January 2002–July 2004, Assistant Director of Operations and F-16 Weapons Instructor Pilot, USAF Weapons School, F-16 Division, Nellis AFB, Nev.
9. July 2004–July 2005, Student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
10. July 2005–July 2006, Student, School of Advanced Air and Space Studies, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
11. September 2006–June 2007, Director of Operations, 18th FS, Eielson AFB, Alaska.
12. June 2007–June 2009, Commander, 16th Weapons Squadron, Nellis AFB, Nev.
13. June 2009–June 2010, Student, U.S. Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pa.
14. June 2010–July 2012, Division Chief, Iran and Levant Division, Joint Staff (J5), Deputy Directorate Political-Military Affairs Middle East, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
15. July 2012–July 2013, Commander, 451st Expeditionary Operations Group, Kandahar AB, Afghanistan
16. July 2013–June 2015, Commander, 51st FW, Osan AB, South Korea
17. June 2015–July 2016, Senior Military Assistant to the Secretary of the Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
18. July 2016–June 2018, Commander, 56th FW, Luke AFB, Ariz.
19. July 2018–July 2019, Director of Air Operations, Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve; Commander, 321st Air Expeditionary Wing; Commander, Task Force - Air; and Deputy Commander, 9th Air Expeditionary Task Force - Levant, Union III, Baghdad, Iraq
20. July 2019–August 2019, Chief of Staff, Joint Force Space Component Command, Peterson AFB, Colo.
21. August 2019–September 2022, Chief of Staff, United States Space Command, Peterson Space Force Base, Colo.
22. September 2022–present, Deputy Commander and Director of Operations, Combined Joint Task Force-Space Operations, Peterson SFB, Colo.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 2010–July 2012, Division Chief, Iran and Levant Division, Joint Staff, Deputy Directorate Political-Military Affairs Middle East, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va., as a colonel
2. July 2018–July 2019, Director of Air Operations, Combined Joint Task Force - Operation Inherent Resolve; Commander, Task Force· Air, Union III, Baghdad, Iraq, as a brigadier general
3. July 2019–September 2022, Chief of Staff, Joint Force Space Component Command, then, Chief of Staff, United States Space Command, Peterson Space Force Base, Colo., as a major general
4. September 2022–present, Deputy Commander and Director of Operations, Combined Joint Task Force - Space Operations, Peterson SFB, Colo., as a major general
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: command pilot
Flight hours: more than 3,000, including 576 combat hours
Aircraft flown: F-35, F-16, T-37, T-38, and C-130
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters
Bronze Star Medal
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with silver oak leaf cluster
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 27, 1992
First Lieutenant May 2, 1994
Captain May 27, 1996
Major Nov. 1, 2002
Lieutenant Colonel Dec. 1, 2006
Colonel Sept. 1, 2011
Brigadier General May 5, 2017
Major General May 7, 2021
(Current as of March 2023)