New Director to lead Asia-Pacific Center
for Security Studies
HONOLULU -The Secretary of Defense has approved the selection of
retired U.S. Air Force Lt. General Daniel Leaf to be the
director of the Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies (APCSS).
A native of Shawano, Wis., Leaf leaves his position as
vice president of full spectrum initiatives at Northrop Grumman
Information Systems' Defense Systems Division to join the
Center.
Leaf retired from the U.S. Air Force in 2008 after more than 33
years of service. His
 last
active duty assignment was as deputy commander of the U.S.
Pacific Command at Camp H.M. Smith, Hawaii, from 2005 to 2008.
Prior to that Leaf served as vice commander of Air Force Space
Command at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., and as the Air Force
director of Operational Requirements at the Pentagon.
Leaf has been a member of the Air Force Scientific Advisory Board
since 2009, and currently serves on the Executive Board of the
Fairfax County-Falls Church Partnership to Prevent and End
Homelessness.
During his Air Force career, Leaf commanded operations at the
squadron, group and wing levels, and commanded the 31st Air
Expeditionary Wing during Operation Allied Force. He is a
command pilot with more than 3,600 flight hours, including F-15
and F-16 combat missions. During the initial stages of Operation
Iraqi Freedom, Leaf was the senior Air Component representative
with U.S. Central Command's Land Component. His decorations
include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the
Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, the Bronze
Star and the Air Medal.
A native of Shawano, Wis., Leaf earned a bachelor's degree in
political science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and
earned his commission as a distinguished graduate of the
university's Air Force ROTC program in 1974. He also graduated
with distinction from the U. S. Army Command and General Staff
College, Fort Leavenworth, Kan. and the Air War College, Maxwell
AFB, Ala. He earned a master's degree in military art and
science from the Command and General Staff College where he also
served as a member of the faculty instructing Research
Methodology and core Air Force courses, and serving as a thesis
chairman for several masters candidates.
"It will be an honor to serve as director of APCSS," said Leaf. "I
developed great respect for the mission and the people of the
Center during my time at PACOM. The focus on the Pacific region
is growing; the APCSS team provides national security outreach
and education that significantly enhances peace and stability in
the region."
Leaf replaces retired U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Ed Smith who served as
director from August 2005 until June 2011. APCSS deputy director
retired U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Jim Hirai, has been serving as the
acting director in the interim.
The Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies is a Department of
Defense academic institute that addresses regional and global
security issues. Military and civilian representatives, most
from the U.S. and Asia-Pacific nations, participate in a
comprehensive program of executive education, professional
exchanges and outreach events, both in Hawaii and throughout the
Asia-Pacific region. The Center supports the U.S. Pacific
Command by developing and sustaining relationships among
security practitioners and national security establishments
throughout the region. APCSS' mission is to build capacities and
communities of interest by educating, connecting, and empowering
security practitioners to advance Asia-Pacific security. It is
one of the Department of Defense's five regional security
studies centers.
About the Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies
The Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies (APCSS) is a U.S.
Department of Defense academic institute that officially opened
Sept. 4, 1995, in Honolulu, Hawaii. APCSS provides a forum where
current and future military and civilian leaders from
Asia-Pacific nations gather to enhance Asia-Pacific security
cooperation through programs of executive education,
professional exchange and policy-relevant research.
The Center supports the U.S. Pacific Command by developing and
sustaining relationships among security practitioners and
national security establishments throughout the region. With a
non-warfighting mission, the Center focuses on comprehensive,
multilateral and multi-dimensional approaches to defining and
addressing regional security issues and concerns. The most
beneficial result is building relationships of trust and
confidence among future leaders and decision-makers within the
region.
APCSS' mission is "Building capacities and communities of interest
by educating, connecting, and empowering security practitioners
to advance Asia-Pacific security." The APCSS provides a focal
point where national officials, decision makers, and policy
makers can gather to exchange ideas, explore pressing issues,
and achieve a greater understanding of the challenges that shape
the security environment of the Asia-Pacific region. A primary
focus is the increasingly complex interrelationships of the
military, economic, political, and diplomatic policies relevant
to regional security issues.
The Center's executive education includes resident courses and
outreach events such as mini-courses, conferences and research
projects. They produce a dynamic, integrated program of study,
workshops and research to support the Center's mission.
Senior military and government decision-makers in security-related
positions from throughout the region participate in APCSS
courses. These courses include a four-week Executive Course:
Advanced Security Cooperation; a one-week Senior Executive
Course: Transnational Security Cooperation; a one-week
Asia-Pacific Orientation Course; a four-week Comprehensive
Security Responses to Terrorism course; a four-week
Comprehensive Crisis Management course; and a three-day Senior
Asia-Pacific Orientation Course.
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