Lieutenant Colonel Leo Ferguson III joined the United States Marine Corps out of Sandusky Ohio and graduated recruit training as a Private on 13 February 1995.
In 2000, Corporal Ferguson was transferred to Pasadena, Ca with 4th Low Altitude Air Defense (LAAD) as a vehicle operator and dispatch NCO. It was there that Sergeant Ferguson was accepted into the Broadened Opportunity for Officer Selection (BOOST) program and promptly stationed in Newport, Rhode Island.
Upon Graduation from BOOST in 2002, he was accepted into the Marine Enlisted Commissioning and Education Program (MECEP) and sent to school at The University of Arizona in Tucson. Upon completion of Officer Candidate School and earning his bachelor’s degree in Sociology with a minor in Criminal Justice, Staff Sergeant Ferguson was commissioned a Second Lieutenant.
From 2006 to 2007 Second Lieutenant Ferguson was assigned to 3d Amphibious Assault Battalion on Camp Pendleton, CA as the Battalion Adjutant. In 2007 he was reassigned to 1st Reconnaissance Battalion as the Battalion Adjutant and Headquarters and Service Company, Executive Officer. During his 2-year tour with 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, First Lieutenant Ferguson deployed on two separate occasions to Al Anbar Province, Iraq in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM.
In 2009, Captain Ferguson was accepted and assigned to the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) where he earned a Master of Science in Management with emphasis in Manpower Systems Analysis. After graduating from NPS in 2011, Captain Ferguson was assigned aboard Marine Corp Base Quantico, Virginia, Manpower & Reserve Affairs as an action officer. His duties included working as an Action Officer in the Future Operations section, Military Policy section and he was the lead active duty Restricted and Unrestricted Officer Promotions Planner during his 3 year tour.
From 2014-2015, Captain Ferguson was stationed at Camp Lejeune, NC and assigned to the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) as the Adjutant. While with the 26th MEU, he deployed to Europe in support of SPMAGTF-CR-AF 14.2 and assisted the command with their administrative and manpower related issues that manifested with transitioning a Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force into a standing Marine Expeditionary Unit.
In 2015, Captain Ferguson was promoted to the rank of Major and reassigned to 2d Marine Logistics Group where he served as the Deputy Assistant Chief of Staff G-1 and the Manpower Operations Officer. From June 2017 to June 2018, Major Ferguson was a student at Marine Corps University, Command and Staff College. While there he earned a second master’s degree in Military Studies. In June 2018 he was transferred to Marine Helicopter Squadron One where he held the billets of command Adjutant.
In July of 2020 Major Ferguson was PCA’d to the Pentagon and placed into the Joint Staff J1, Human Capital Division as the primary Manpower Manager/Analyst for NORTHCOM, NORAD, SOCOM, TRANSCOM and STRATCOM. Major Ferguson was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel on 1 June 2021. On 20 Jul 22 LtCol Ferguson was PCA’d to Training and Education Command (TECOM) as the Deputy G1 and Future Operations Branch Head. He assumed Command of Personnel Administration School on 23 June 2023.