Commander Leon assumed the duties of Commanding Officer, Tactical Law Enforcement Team (TACLET) Pacific, based in San Diego, California, in June 2024. As part of the Deployable Specialized Forces (DSF), TACLET Pacific’s 12 Law Enforcement Detachments (LEDETs), whose center of gravity is high-risk/high consequence counterdrug operations, deploy worldwide in support of Operational and Combatant Commanders, delivering a noncompliant boarding capability on U.S. and Allied assets for advanced law enforcement, defense readiness, and maritime security operations, along with providing technical assistance to partner nations.
A native of Phoenix, Arizona, he enlisted in the Coast Guard in July 1998, where he completed Basic Training at Training Center Cape May, New Jersey. His enlisted assignments include Station San Francisco, California and Station New Haven, Connecticut. He earned his commission from Officer Candidate School in New London, Connecticut in February 2007.
Upon commissioning, he was assigned to TACLET Pacific where he served as Officer in Charge and Deployable Team Leader doe Law Enforcement Detachments (LEDETs) 103 and 108 from 2007 through 2009, conducting global counterdrug operations that resulted in the apprehension of 25 narco-terrorists and seizure of 21 metric tons of cocaine valued at $794 million. From 2009 to 2010 he assumed the responsibilities as the unit’s Training Officer, where he ensured the operational readiness for the eight LEDETs and Airborne Use of Force Locker. In 2010 he responded to District Thirteen’s Command Center in Seattle, Washington, where he served as Command Duty Officer and Training Officer, providing oversight and guidance to three Sector Command Centers, three Air Stations, 14 major cutters, 10 surf stations, and five boat stations. In 2013 he was assigned to Maritime Safety and Security Team based in San Diego, California, where he was charged with the development of the Coast Guard’s west coast-based counter-terrorism capability. He served as the unit’s first Direct Action Section Assault Force Commander, paving the pathway for the unit achieving the initial operating capability in 2017, establishing Maritime Security Response Team (MSRT) West. In 2017 he was assigned to Atlantic Area, serving as the TACLET Force Manager, where he ensured the operational readiness and force allocation of the service’s two TACLETs, resulting in the execution of 325 world-wide LEDET deployments and the interdiction of 307 metric tons of cocaine valued at $11.6 billion. in 2020, he fleeted up to the DSF Section Chief, where he managed the readiness and employment of Atlantic Area’s nine-armed-DSF Commands. In 2021 he was assigned to MRST East, the Coast Guard’s east coast-based counterterrorism unit, where he served as Assistant Operations Officer for one year prior to fleeting up to the Executive Officer.
He earned his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from the University of Phoenix and his master’s degree in National Security Studies from American Military University.
His personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal (three), Coast Guard Commendation Medal (three), Coast Guard Achievement Medal (four), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Basic Training Honor Graduate, Expert Rifle Medal, and Expert Pistol Medal, in addition to other personal, unit, and Service awards. He earned the Tactical Law Enforcement Insignia, Boat Force Operations Insignia (Advanced), and Response Operations Ashore Insignia.
He is married to Amber Marie Leon, formerly Kuchinski, of Denver Colorado. They have a son, Cash Ryan Leon, who they welcomed February 29, 2024.
