Joseph J. Leonard

Commander Joe Leonard is a nationally recognized emergency responder, incident manager, and trainer with over forty years of United States Coast Guard, United States Army, volunteer municipal fire service, and private-sector experience responding to natural disasters, oil spills, hazardous materials releases, marine fires, mass rescue operations, mass care and shelter events, national special security events, and maritime homeland security events. As a Principal Consultant with the PENTA Consortium, Commander Leonard served as the Project Manager for the Harris County (Texas) Multi-Agency Gap Analysis.
He chairs the Greater Harris County Local Emergency Planning Committee and is an active member of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary where he serves as a Division Commander, District Staff Officer-Emergency Management, and Flotilla Staff Officer-Public Education. He serves on the Planning Committee for the Hot Zone Hazardous Materials Conference; on the Preparedness Leadership Council and Journal Editorial Board; and is past the Chairman of the Public-Private Partnership Committee of the International Association of Emergency Managers.
He is an active member of several professional organizations, including the International Association of Emergency Managers, National Emergency Management Association, Emergency Management Associations of Texas and Tennessee, ASIS, the National Fire Protection Association, the Global Society for Homeland and National Security Professionals, and the Historical Miniatures Gaming Society. He is a life member of the United States Naval Institute, the Navy League of the United States, the All-Hazards Incident Management Teams’ Association, and the National Rifle Association.
Commander Leonard’s military awards include two Coast Guard Auxiliary Meritorious Service Medals, four Meritorious Service Medals, eight Coast Guard Commendation Medals, the Army Commendation Medal, the Department of Transportation 9-11 Medal, seven Coast Guard Achievement Medals, two Army Achievement Medals, six Coast Guard Commandant’s Letter of Commendation Ribbons, and numerous unit awards. He is authorized to wear the Coast Guard Marine Safety Professional Pin, Coast Guard Aviator Wings, the Army Parachutist Badge, and the Army Air Assault Badge. He was awarded the Marshall Kraemer Distinguished Service Medal and Humanitarian Service Medal by the Harris County Fire Marshal in 2012. Commander Leonard received the Hot Zone Hazardous Materials Conference’s “Benny Howard Diamond Award” in 2015. He was recognized with the prestigious U.S. Navy League’s Captain David H. Jarvis Award for Inspirational Leadership and was named a Fox News “Power Player of the Week” on 11 September 2005 for his services as the FEMA-designated Area Commander-Houston Area Mega-Shelter Operations following landfall of Hurricane Katrina.
He has a Bachelors Degree in History from the Virginia Military Institute and a Master’s Degree in Engineering Technology from Murray State University. He is certified through the US Coast Guard as a Type-2 Incident Commander, Type-1 Planning Section Chief, Type-2 Operations Section Chief, and Type-3 Liaison Officer. He holds certifications as a Master Exercise Practitioner (FEMA), Master Continuity Professional (FEMA), Certified Emergency Manager International Association of Emergency Managers), Certified Homeland Protection Professional (National Sheriffs’ Association, and Certified Port Executive (McDonnel Group).