Rear Admiral William P. Leahy, Jr. became Chief, Office of Law Enformcement and Defense Opeartions, U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters, Washington, DC in June 1991. As such, Rear Admiral Leahy is a responsible to the Commandant for establishing the program requirements for surface and aviation operations.
Rear Admiral Leahy was Commander, Joint Task Force Five, located in Alameda, California, from February 1989 to May 1991. This command's mission was to conduct operations to detect and monitor aircraft and surface vessels suspected of smuggling illegal drugs within the U.S. Pacific Command area of responsibility. Prior to this, he was Commander, Second Coast Guard District, located in St. Louis, Missouri, from May 1988 to February 1989.
Rear Admiral Leahy has served aboard many vessels during his career including Coast Guard cutters McCulloch, Duane, Castle Rock, Resolute, Sherman, Dallas, and Comanche. He served as Commanding Officer of cutters Decisive and Gallatin.
His shore assignments include: Commanding Officer of the Long Range Aids to Naigation Station on Marcus Island; Commander, Coast Guard Group Buffalo, New York; Chief, Readiness Division, Coast Guard Atlantic Area; Chief, Military Readiness Division, U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters, Washington, D.C.; and Commanding Officer of Vessel Traffic System in New York. Rear Admiral Leahy served two tours in Vietnam - first as Commander, Division 13 in 1970, and in 1972 as Senior Coast Guard Officer. He also served as Chief, Operations Division, and Chief of Staff, Twelfth Coast Guard District in Alameda, California, and as Chief of Staff, Coast Guard Pacific Area located at Coast Guard Island, Alameda, California.
Rear Admiral Leahy's awards include: Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit with Gold Star, Bronze Star medal with combat "V" device, the Meritorious Service Medal with "O" device and Gold Star, the Coast Guard Commendation Medal, the U.S. Navy Commendation Medal with combat "V" device, the Combat Action Ribbon, and the Vietnam Service medal with four Bronze Stars. Rear Admiral Leahy is also authorized to wear the Cutterman Insignia.
Rear Admiral Leahy was born and raised in Worcester, Massachusetts. Upon graduation from Classical High School, he eneterd the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut and graduated in 1959.
Rear Admiral Leahy is married to the former Margaret P. P. of Stratham, New Hampshire. They have three children; Sarah, Mark, and Matthew.