Colonel Joseph W. Leonard is Director of Staff at Joint Force Headquarters, New Jersey Air National Guard (NJANG).
As Director of Staff, he serves as the principal advisor to The Adjutant General of the State of New Jersey. He is responsible for coordinating policies, plans, and programs with the State’s two Air National Guard Wings and for collaborating Joint Force mission requisites with his New Jersey Army National Guard colleagues. Additionally, he oversees the daily operations of the headquarters staff.
Colonel Leonard enlisted in the Air Force in January 1993 as an F-16 Avionics Communication, Navigation, and Penetration Aids Systems Specialist. Upon completion of his technical training at Lowry Air Force Base, Colo. he was assigned to the 311th Fighter Squadron, Luke AFB, Ariz., as an Avionics Systems Apprentice on the units F-16 C/D aircraft. He was then selected for reassignment to the 62d Fighter Squadron, Luke AFB, Ariz. to assist in the squadron’s reactivation. After completing his active-duty enlistment in February 1997 he enlisted with the New Jersey Air National Guard in July 1997, as an F-16 Integrated Avionics Systems Specialist. Colonel Leonard earned his commission in 2003 and has since held a variety of Aircraft Maintenance Officer positions. In 2009 he commenced his first command position as the Commander of the 177th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. In 2014 he was chosen for a second squadron command before being selected as the Deputy Group Commander of the 177th Maintenance Group. He was selected for Group Command in 2019 as the 177th Maintenance Group Commander. Prior to his current position, Colonel Leonard served as the Deputy Commander of the 108th Wing, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey.
During this time, he mobilized in support of Operation Noble Eagle and served numerous overseas deployments in support of Operation Southern Watch, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation Enduring Freedom
EDUCATION
2000 Bachelor of Science, Biological Sciences, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, N.J.
2011 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., by correspondence
2013 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by seminar
2017 Aircraft Mishap Investigation Course, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
2020 Master of Strategic Studies, U.S. Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pa.
2023 Commander Leadership Course, Joint Base Andrews, Md.
2024 Senior Leader Nuclear Management, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
2024 AF Nuclear Command, Control, and Communications Advanced Concepts Course, Offutt AFB, Neb.
2025 Joint Task Force Commander Training Course, Fort Carson, Colo.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. March 1993 – July 1993, Student, F-16 Avionics Communication, Navigation, and Penetration Aids Systems Specialist Course, 3450th Technical Training Squadron, Lowry Air Force Base, Colo.2. July 1993 – November 1994, F-16 Avionics Systems Specialist, 311th/308th Fighter Squadron, Luke AFB, Ariz.
3. November 1994 – February 1997, F-16 Avionics Systems Specialist, 62d Fighter Squadron, Luke AFB, Ariz.
4. July 1997 – May 2003, Avionics Technician, 177th Aircraft Generation Squadron, Egg Harbor Twp., NJ (November 2000 – December 2000, F-16 Integrated Avionics Systems Specialist, 363d Air Expeditionary Wing, Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia)
5. May 2003 – June 2003, Student, Academy of Military Science, McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base, Tenn.
6. June 2003 – November 2004, Maintenance Operations Officer, 177th Maintenance Squadron, Egg Harbor Twp., N.J.
7. November 2004 – January 2009, Maintenance Operations Officer, 177th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Egg Harbor Twp., N.J. (February 2006 – April 2006, Aircraft Maintenance Officer, 332d Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Balad AB, Iraq)
8. January 2009 – April 2014, Commander, 177th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Egg Harbor Twp., N.J. (March 2010 – June 2010, Aircraft Maintenance Officer, 332d Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Balad AB, Iraq) (November 2011 – March 2012, Aircraft Maintenance Officer, 455th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan)
9. April 2014 – January 2017, Commander, 177th Maintenance Squadron, Egg Harbor Twp., N.J. (July 2015 – August 2015, Maintenance Officer, 177th Maintenance Group, Graf Ignatievo AB, Bulgaria)
10. January 2017 – August 2019, Deputy Commander, 177th Maintenance Group, Egg Harbor Twp., N.J. (February 2017 – April 2017, Deputy Commander, 51st Maintenance Group, Osan AB, Republic of Korea)
11. August 2019 – June 2022, Commander, 177th Maintenance Group, Egg Harbor Twp., N.J.
12. June 2022 – July 2025, Vice Commander, 108th Wing, Joint Base McGuire–Dix–Lakehurst, N.J.
13. August 2025 – present, Director of Staff, Joint Force Headquarters, Joint Base McGuire–Dix–Lakehurst, N.J.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air and Space Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster
Non-Article 5 NATO Medal (International Security Assistance Force)
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant June 27, 2003
First Lieutenant June 27, 2005
Captain June 27, 2007
Major Sept. 28, 2011
Lieutenant Colonel Nov. 10, 2015
Colonel June 24, 2021
(Current as of August 2025)