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In August 2010, Vice Admiral Joe Leidig assumed duties as Deputy to the Commander for Military Operations, United States Africa Command.

U.S. Africa Command protects and defends the national security interests of the United States by strengthening the defense capabilities of African states and regional organizations and, when directed, conducts military operations, in order to deter and defeat transnational threats and to provide a security environment conductive to good governance and development.

Leidig graduated with distinction from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1978 with a Bachelors of Science in Mathematics and is an honorary graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy Class of 2008.

Leidig’s operational tours include service in both attack and ballistic missile submarines. He served aboard USS Henry L. Stimson (SSBN 655), USS Sam Rayburn (SSBN 635), USS Stonewall Jackson (SSBN 634), as Executive Officer aboard USS Pogy (SSN 647) and as Commanding Officer of USS Cavalla (SSN 684) where his crew earned two Meritorious Unit Commendations and the Navy Battle Efficiency E. He received the David Lloyd Leadership Award and the L.Y. Spear Award upon completion of the Submarine Officer Advanced Course.

Leidig’s other command tours include Commander, Submarine Development Squadron 5; Commander, Naval Forces Marianas, Commander, Navy Region, Marianas, and U.S. Defense representative to Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau and Micronesia, and Commander Submarines, Allied Naval Forces South (NATO); Commander, Submarine Group 8, Director of Operations and Intelligence, Naval Forces Europe and Africa, and Deputy Commander, U.S. 6th Fleet;

Leidig’s staff assignments include service as Submarine Squadron 11 Material Officer, as Senior Member of the Nuclear Propulsion Examining Board, Atlantic Fleet, as Assistant Deputy Director for Regional Operations (J-3) on the Joint Staff and as Executive Assistant to the Director of the Joint Staff, and two tours at the U.S. Naval Academy as an instructor and later as the 80th Commandant of Midshipmen. Prior to assuming his current position, he served as Chief of Staff for the Director, Strategic Plans and Policy (J-5) on the Joint Staff.

Leidig earned a Master's Degree in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College as a Distinguished Graduate in 1994, completed the National Security Management Program at Syracuse University in 2001 and the Navy’s Executive Business Course at University of North Carolina in 2005.

Leidig’s personal decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit , the Meritorious Service Medal, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Navy Commendation Medal, and the Navy Achievement Medal along with other unit and service awards.