MAJOR GENERAL MICHAEL J. LEENEY
Deputy Commanding General, U.S. Army Central
Major General Michael J. Leeney was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut and later attended the Virginia Military Institute where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in History and commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant of Field Artillery. He later Branch Qualified in Infantry (11A), Armor (19A) and Air Defense (14A). He has completed the Field Artillery Officer Basic Course, Junior Officer Maintenance Course, Field Artillery Officer Advance Course, Scout Leaders Course, Tank Commanders Course, Mechanized Leaders Course, Fire Support Coordinator Course, Command and General Staff College, Air Defense Officer Transition Course, AFATDS Command and Staff Course, Field Artillery PreCommand Course, Joint Operational Fires and Effects Course, Joint Task Force Commander Training Course, Dual Status Commander Qualification Program, Combined Joint Force Land Component Commander Course, and the Army Strategic Education Program. He holds a Master’s Degree in Strategic Studies from the US Army War College.
Camp Casey, Korea; 2-9th IN and 2-8th FA at Fort Ord, CA; 3-160th IN in Inglewood, CA; 40th DIVARTY in West Los Angeles, CA; USBATT, Multinational Force and Observers in Sinai, Egypt; 1-185th AR in San Bernardino, CA; 40th ID in Los Alamitos, CA; 40th Agribusiness Development Team in Kunar, Afghanistan and the 79th IBCT in San Diego, CA. He assumed Command of 1-143rd FA in Walnut Creek, CA in 2011 and was then assigned as the XO for the 79th IBCT in 2013. He became the Chief of Staff, 40th ID in August of 2014, and served in that position until May of 2018. He then deployed as the Chief of Staff for Train, Advise and Assist Command-South (TAAC-S), in Kandahar, Afghanistan, and upon redeployment in February of 2019 was assigned as the Deputy Commanding General-Operations for 40th ID. He was selected as the Commanding General of the Division in May of 2022. He then deployed as the Commanding General of Task Force Spartan at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait from July 2023 to March 2024. He became the Deputy Commanding General for US Army Central and 3rd Army in October of 2024.
Major General Leeney’s military awards and decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster, Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster, Meritorious Service Medal with Silver Oak Leaf Cluster, Army Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Navy-Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, National Defense Service Medal with Star Device, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War On Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War On Terrorism Service Medal, Korea Defense Service Medal, NATO Service Medal (ISAF), Multinational Force and Observers Medal, the Combat Infantryman’s Badge and the Army Airborne Badge. He has also received the Honorable Order of Saint Barbara, the Honorable Order of Saint Maurice, the Honorable Order of Saint George, and numerous California State Awards.