Leo A. Mercado Colonel, USMC (Ret.) Commandant of Cadets Phone: (843) 953-3020 Fax: (843) 953-7084 leo.mercado@citadel.edu

Colonel Leo A. Mercado was commissioned through the NROTC Scholarship Program after graduation from The Citadel in 1979. He was subsequently assigned to the 1st Marine Division where he served as a firing battery officer and assistant battalion operations officer with the 3rd Battalion, 11th Marines from April 1980 until June 1982.

In 1982, he was assigned to the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing where he served as an aerial observer, training officer, scheduling officer, and assistant flight operations officer with Marine Observation Squadron One. From 1985 until 1988, he was assigned to the 2nd Marine Division and served as battalion liaison officer and Commanding Officer, Battery C, 1st Battalion, 10th Marines, and as the Fire Support Coordinator with 2nd Tank Battalion.

From 1988 until 1991, Colonel Mercado served as the Officer Selection Officer, Marine Corps Recruiting Station, Omaha, Nebraska. In 1991 he was assigned to the Marine Corps Command and Staff College 1992 and after graduation in 1992, reassigned to Headquarters, United States Marine Corps where he served as the Head, Reserve Officer Procurement Section in the Manpower and Reserve Affairs Department. From 1993 until 1995, he was assigned to the White House Military Office for duty as the Marine Corps Aide to the 42nd President of the United States.

In 1995, he was reassigned to the 2nd Marine Division where he served as the executive officer, 2nd Battalion, 10th Marines, Deputy Assistant Chief of Staff for Readiness and Assistant Division Inspector, 2nd Marine Division, and executive officer, 10th Marine Regiment. From 1998 until 2000, Colonel Mercado served as the Commanding Officer, First Recruit Training Battalion, Parris Island, South Carolina.

In 2000, he was assigned to the United States Army War College and after graduation in 2001, reassigned to United States Marine Forces Europe for duty with the United States European Command's Joint Contact Team Program as the Chief of the Military Liaison Team in Bucharest, Romania. From 2002 until 2004, Colonel Mercado was assigned to Marine Corps Base, Camp Pendleton and served as Commanding Officer, Security Battalion and Assistant Chief of Staff, Security and Emergency Services.

From 2004 until 2007, Colonel Mercado served as the Chief of Staff, Marine Corps University and Commander, Education Command. He was assigned the Secretary of the General Staff, Office of the Director, Marine Corps Staff, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps from 2007 until retiring in 2009.

Colonel Mercado is a graduate of the Field Artillery Officer Advanced Course, Marine Corps Command and Staff College, and U.S. Army War College. He holds a Master of Public Administration from Shippensburg University and a Master of Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College.

His personal decorations include the Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit with gold star, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with two gold stars, and Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with gold star.

Office of the Commandant