Commandant of Cadets
Commandant of Cadets
COLONEL
Leo A. Mercado
United States Marine Corps (Retired)
Colonel Leo A. Mercado was commissioned a second lieutenant through the NRTOC program after graduation from The Citadel in 1979.
Col Mercado’s command assignments have included tours as: Commanding Officer, Battery C, 1st Battalion, 10th Marines; Commanding Officer, First Recruit Training Battalion, Parris Island, SC; Commanding Officer, Security Battalion, Camp Pendleton, CA; and Commander, Education Command, Quantico, VA.
Col Mercado’s staff assignments have included tours as: Assistant Operations Officer, 3rd Battalion, 11th Marines; Assistant Operations Officer, Marine Observation Squadron One; Battalion Liaison Officer ,1st Battalion, 10th Marines; Fire Support Coordinator, 2nd Tank Battalion; Officer Selection Officer, Omaha, Nebraska; Assistant for Officer Procurement, Headquarters, US Marine Corps; Marine Corps Aide to the President, Washington, DC ; Executive Officer, 2nd Battalion, 10th Marines; Deputy Assistant Chief of Staff and Division Inspector, 2nd Marine Division; Executive Officer, 10th Marine Regiment; Chief, Military Liaison Team, Bucharest, Romania; Assistant Chief of Staff, Security and Emergency Services, Camp Pendleton, CA; Chief of Staff, Marine Corps University; and Secretary of the General Staff, Headquarters, US Marine Corps.
Col Mercado is a graduate of the Field Artillery Officer Advanced Course; Marine Corps Command and Staff College; and US Army War College. He has a Master in Public Administration from Shippensburg University and Master of Strategic Studies from the US Army War College.
Col Mercado’s 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 2 gold stars; and Navy/Marine Corps Commendation Medal with gold star.