Daniel P . Leaf Dan “ Fig ” Leaf became the Director , Asia - Pacific Center for Security Studies ( APCSS ) in January 2012 . Prior to that , he worked in the defense industry as vice president of full spectrum initiatives at Northrop Grumman Information Systems . Formerly the Deputy Commander of U . S . Pacific Command ( PACOM ) , Lt . Gen . Leaf retired from the U . S . Air Force in 2008 after more than 33 years of service . Other assignments during his Air Force career included Vice Commander of Air Force Space Command , Air Force Director of Operational Requirements , and multiple commands at squadron , group and wing levels . He was a member of the Air Force Scientific Advisory Board from 2009 through 2011 . Lt . Gen . ( Ret . ) Leaf was a command pilot with more than 3 , 600 flight hours , including F - 15 and F - 16 combat missions . His decorations include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal , the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal , the Legion of Merit , the Bronze Star and the Air Medal . A native of Shawano , Wisconsin , Lt . Gen . Leaf earned a bachelor ’ s degree in political science from the University of Wisconsin - Madison and earned his commission as a distinguished graduate of the university ’ s Air Force ROTC program in 1974 . He also graduated with distinction from the U . S . Army Command and General Staff College , Fort Leavenworth , Kansas , and the Air War College , Maxwell AFB , Alabama . He earned a master ’ s degree in military art and science from the Command and General Staff College where he also served as a member of the faculty instructing Research Methodology and core Air Force courses , and serving as a thesis chairman for several masters candidates . Lieutenant General , USAF , Retired , Daniel P . Leaf was Deputy Commander and Acting Commander , U . S . Pacific Command , Camp H . M . Smith , Hawaii . Formerly Vice President for Full Spectrum Initiatives at Northrop Grumman Information Systems Defense Systems Division . He was a member of the U . S . Air Force Scientific Advisory Board until he rejoined government service as Director , Asia - Pacific Center for Security Studies . Biography . A native of Shawano , Wisconsin , General Leaf earned his commission as a distinguished graduate of the University of Wisconsin – Madison Air Force ROTC program in 1974 . He commanded a flight , two squadrons , an operations group and two fighter wings , and has directed joint operations . In 1995 , General Leaf served as the J - 3 for Joint Task Force - Southwest Asia and flew the F - 15C over Southern Iraq , enforcing U . N . sanctions on the Saddam Hussein regime . He deployed to Incirlik Air Base , Turkey , with one of his 20th Fighter Wing squadrons in 1998 and flew the F - 16CJ on Operation Northern Watch suppression of enemy air defense missions over Northern Iraq . During Operation Allied Force , General Leaf commanded the 31st Air Expeditionary Wing , which included F - 16CG , F - 16CJ , F - 15E , F - 117A , A - 10A and EC - 130 aircraft squadrons . He flew and led F - 16CG day and night combat missions against fixed and mobile targets in Serbia and Kosovo . During Operation Iraqi Freedom , he served as the Director , Air Component Coordination Element with the Coalition Land Forces Component Commander in Kuwait and Iraq . In that role , he served as the Air Component Commander ' s direct representative to the Land Commander during planning and initial major combat operations . Prior to this assignment , General Leaf was the Vice Commander of Air Force Space Command , Peterson AFB , Colorado . Other staff assignments include duty as the Air Force ' s Director of Operational Requirements and the Deputy J - 3 , U . S . Forces - Korea . General Leaf is a command pilot with more than 3 , 600 flying hours , including Allied Force , Joint Forge , Northern Watch and Southern Watch combat missions and a command space operator . His awards include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal , Air Force Distinguished Service Medal , Defense Superior Service Medal , Legion of Merit , Bronze Star , Air Medal and numerous other awards and decorations .