Lt. Col. Leigh Kennedy graduated from Bates College in Lewiston, Maine, in 2000. In 2004, he joined the U.S. Army, attended Officer Candidate School, and was commissioned as an Infantry second lieutenant. Kennedy is a graduate of the Infantry Officer Basic Course, Ranger School, Airborne School, the Military Intelligence Captain’s Career Course (MICCC), and the Command General Staff College.
Kennedy was assigned to 2nd Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division from 2005-2008. During his time with 2nd Brigade, he served as an Infantry Platoon Leader with Delta Company, 2nd Battalion, 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment. Kennedy deployed with Delta Company in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from 2007 to 2008. His battalion’s area of operation was the Adhamiyah and Sadr City districts of Baghdad. During the second half of the deployment, he served as the Battalion Civil Affairs Officer.
Kennedy had a break in service beginning in 2008, during which time he worked for ISIGTECH in Columbia, Maryland. He returned to active duty in 2010, re-branched into Military Intelligence, and attended the MICCC at Fort Huachuca, Arizona.
In February 2011, Kennedy reported to 2nd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division at Fort Carson, Colorado, where he was assigned to 3-16 Field Artillery Regiment as the Battalion S2. Kennedy deployed with 3-16 Field Artillery Regiment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom from 2011-2012. His battalion’s area of operation was the Herat and Badghis Provinces of Regional Command West. In April 2012, Kennedy assumed command of Alpha Company, 2nd Special Troops Battalion at Camp Nathan Smith, Kandahar. In May 2013, Kennedy became the Brigade Assistant S2 and deployed to Camp Buerhing, Kuwait, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
In April 2014, Kennedy reported to the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, California, as part of the Army’s Project Warrior Program. Kennedy executed two rotations as the senior Battalion Intelligence Trainer and seven as the senior Military Intelligence Company Trainer for the Sidewinder Team (BSTB/BEB trainers). Kennedy was selected as one of three intelligence planners for NTC’s Operations Group. While serving as an Intelligence Planner, he planned and executed four rotations.
In December 2015, Kennedy returned to Fort Huachuca, Arizona, and the 304 Military Intelligence Battalion. LHe was the primary instructor and Block Chief for Brigade Operations I at the MICCC. The Brigade Operations I curriculum centered on the Military Decision-Making Process and Intelligence Preparation of the Battlefield in a Decisive Action Training Environment.
In April 2017, Kennedy transitioned to the Strategic Intelligence functional Area (FA34) and served as a Senior Military Analyst at the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) in Washington, DC. In 2019, LTC Kennedy earned his Master’s in Strategic Intelligence from the National Intelligence University.
In August 2019, Kennedy returned to DIA and served as the Branch Chief for the Russian Military Capabilities and Strategy Branch. He also served as the Executive Officer for the Europe Eurasia Regional Center (EERC) and EERC’s Chief of Current Operations. In July 2022, Kennedy was selected for a normative position with Headquarters, Department of the Army, G 3/5/7, Operations and Technology Division.
Kennedy’s awards and decorations include the Bronze Star with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Meritorious Service Medal with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster, the Joint Service Commendation Medal with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster, the Army Commendation Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, the Army Achievement Medal with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Expert Infantryman Badge, the Ranger Tab, the Parachutist Badge, Ukrainian Jump Wings, and the German Armed Forces Badge (Gold). He also received the Honorable Saint Barbara and the Military Intelligence Corps’ Knowlton Awards.
Kennedy's wife is an Army civilian for the Army Civilian Career Management Activity.