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SDDC change of command ceremony March 27 at Scott

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  • SDDC Public Affairs
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. --  During a change of command ceremony at Scott March 27 in Hangar 1, Maj. Gen. Thomas J. Richardson will assume command of the Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command from Maj. Gen. Kevin A. Leonard.

Leonard, who assumed command of SDDC Aug. 25, 2010, will retire after 33 years of service to our nation.

Maj. Gen. Thomas J. Richardson

Born in St. Louis, Richardson entered the U.S. Army upon graduation from Stephen F. Austin University in 1980, and was commissioned in the Quartermaster Corps.

He has held a wide variety of command and staff positions during his 31 year career. The general recently returned from Iraq where he was the J4 for United States Forces--Iraq. Other key assignments include: commander, Land and Maritime Defense Logistics Agency; U.S. Pacific Command J4; executive officer to the deputy commander, Army Materiel Command; commander, 64th Corps Support Group; deputy J4, U.S. European Command; and commander, 296th Forward Support Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Wash.

His military education includes the Quartermaster Basic and Advance Courses, Combined Arms Staff School, Army Command and General Staff College, and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces. He holds a bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Stephen F. Austin State University; a Master of Military Arts and Science from U.S. Army Command and General Staff College; and a Master of Science in Strategic Resource Management from National Defense University.

The general's joint assignments include: commander, Defense Supply Center Columbus, DLA, Columbus, Ohio, from August 2009 to September 2010; director for logistics, engineering and security assistance, J-4, U.S. Pacific Command, Camp H. M. Smith, Hawaii, from June 2007 to August 2009; and, joint logistics staff officer, and later, chief, logistics operations division, and later, deputy director, logistics and security assistance directorate, J-4, U.S. European Command, Germany, from June 1999 to July 2002.

His decorations and badges include the Defense Superior Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters; Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster; Bronze Star Medal; Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters; Army Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters; Army Achievement Medal; and Parachutist Badge.