Retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Daniel Leaf

HONOLULU –The Secretary of Defense has approved the selection of  retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. 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 31^st 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.

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.

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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. 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.