Brig. Gen. Christopher J. Leonard is the Air Force Director of Civil Engineers, Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics, Engineering and Force Protection, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia. He is responsible for providing policy and oversight for the planning, development, construction, maintenance, utilities and environmental quality of 176 Air Force bases worldwide, valued at more than $420 billion. This responsibility includes housing, fire and emergency services, explosive ordnance disposal and emergency management services. He also influences resourcing for installation support functions with an annual budget of $8 billion and is the focal point for organizing, training and equipping a 51,000-person engineer force.
Brig. Gen. Leonard entered the Air Force in May 1997 after graduating from the U.S. Air Force Academy. Prior to his current position, he was the Commander of the 10th Air Base Wing, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colorado. In addition to commanding at the wing, group and squadron level, his staff experience includes headquarters tours at the joint, Air Force, and major command levels. Brig. Gen. Leonard’s expeditionary experience includes numerous deployments in support of operations Southern Watch and Iraqi Freedom.
EDUCATION
1997 Bachelor of Science, Civil Engineering, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.
2000 Master of Science, Engineering and Environmental Management, Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio
2002 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2006 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., by correspondence
2010 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2011 Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kan.
2015 National Defense Fellow, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, Harvard Kennedy School, Cambridge, Mass.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 1997–August 1998, Program Manager, Cultural and Natural Resources, 28th Civil Engineer Squadron, Ellsworth Air Force Base, Rapid City, S.D.
2. August 1998–March 2000, Student, Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright Patterson AFB, Dayton, Ohio
3. March 2000–November 2000, Student, Naval Explosive Ordnance School, Eglin AFB, Fla.
4. November 2000–June 2002, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Flight Commander, 20th Civil Engineer Squadron, Shaw AFB, S.C.
5. June 2002–January 2003, Assistant Chief, Wing Plans and Inspections, 20th Fighter Wing, Shaw AFB, S.C.
6. January 2003–May 2003, Chief, Maintenance Engineering, 20th CES, Shaw AFB, S.C.
7. May 2003–May 2004, Contingency and Electrical Flight Commander, 39th CES, Incirlik Air Base, Türkiye
8. May 2004–May 2005, Readiness Flight Commander, 39th CES, Incirlik AB, Türkiye
9. May 2005–May 2006, Command Civil Engineer Inspector, Headquarters Air Combat Command, Langley AFB, Va.
10. May 2006–November 2006, Liaison to 3rd Ordnance Battalion (EOD), 732nd Expeditionary CES, Detachment 5, Victory Base, Iraq
11. November 2006–July 2007, Chief, Southwest Asia Delivery Team, ACC A7, Headquarters ACC, Langley AFB, Va.
12. July 2007–May 2008, Engineering Flight Commander, 35th CES, Misawa AB, Japan
13. May 2008–June 2009, Chief of Civil Engineering/Air Advisor, Coalition Air Force Transition Team Headquarters, Baghdad International Zone, Iraq
14. June 2009–June 2010, Operations Flight Commander, 35th CES, Misawa AB, Japan
15. June 2010–June 2011, Student, Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kan.
16. June 2011–June 2012, Commander, 8th CES, Kunsan AB, South Korea
17. June 2012–August 2013, Military Construction Branch Chief, Office of the Civil Engineer, Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics, Installations and Mission Support, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
18. August 2013–July 2014, Executive Officer to the Director of Civil Engineers, Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics, Installations and Mission Support, HAF, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
19. July 2014–July 2015, National Defense Fellow, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, Harvard Kennedy School, Cambridge, Mass.
20. July 2015–July 2017, Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Defense Branch Chief, Joint Requirement Office, J8, Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
21. July 2017–July 2020, Commander, 48th Mission Support Group, Royal Air Force Lakenheath, United Kingdom
22. July 2020–June 2021, Senior Military Assistant, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Installations, Environment, and Energy, HAF, Arlington, Va.
23. July 2021–July 2023, Installation Commander, 10th Air Base Wing, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.
24. July 2023–June 2025, Director of Logistics, Engineering and Force Protection, Headquarters U.S. Air Forces in Europe and U.S. Air Forces Africa, Ramstein Air Base, Germany
25. June 2025–present, Air Force Director of Civil Engineers, Deputy Chief of Staff of Logistics, Engineering and Force Protection, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 2015–July 2017, Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Defense Branch Chief, Joint Requirement Office, J8, Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va., as a lieutenant colonel and colonel
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster
Bronze Star Medal
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Army Commendation Medal with “V” device
Air Force Combat Action Medal
Army Combat Action Badge
(Current as of June 2025)