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General Leonard takes command of SDDC

  • Published
  • By Headquarters SDDC Command Affairs Office
  • SDDC
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. --  Maj. Gen. Kevin A. Leonard became the 17th commanding general of the Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command Aug. 25 during a change of command ceremony at Scott Air Force Base.

Gen. Duncan J. McNabb, U.S. Transportation Command commander, hosted the ceremony, and Army Gen. Ann E. Dunwoody, commanding general, Army Materiel Command, officiated.

"This command has demonstrated flexibility, creativity and technical prowess while finding new approaches to some of the greatest logistical challenges in the history of warfare," General Leonard said. "I am sincerely humbled to take command knowing that I am surrounded by a world-class workforce."

General Leonard has served in a variety of joint and operational assignments to include the deputy chief of staff for Operations at the U.S. Army Materiel Command, Fort Belvoir, Va; commanding general, 1st Sustainment Command (Theater), U.S. Army Central Command, Camp Arifjan, Kuwait; commanding general, 1st Sustainment Command (Theater), Fort Bragg, N.C.; commanding general, 1st Corps Support Command, XVIII Airborne Corps, Fort Bragg; commander, Special Operations Support Command (Airborne), Fort Bragg; and commander, Army Materiel Command --Southwest Asia / Coalition Forces Land Component Command C4.

His education includes a Bachelor of Science degree in sociology from Emporia State University; Master of Business Administration degree from Oklahoma City University; master's degree in Military Arts and Sciences from the United States Army Command and General Staff College; and a master's degree in strategic studies from the United States Army War College.

General Leonard takes command of SDDC at the beginning of a new era for the command. This is the first time in the command's 45 year history that the entire headquarters is housed in one location.

Maj. Gen. James L. Hodge, outgoing commanding general, will command the Sustainment Center of Excellence and Fort Lee at Fort Lee, Va. General Hodge took command of SDDC June 30, 2008.

SDDC is the Army component of USTRANSCOM and responsible for strategic surface transportation and distribution for the Department of Defense. With more than 4,500 people worldwide, SDDC's headquarters officially relocated to its new home at Scott Air Force Base completing the actions mandated by BRAC 2005.