Kurt W. Tidd

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Kurt W. Tidd
VADM Kurt Tidd 2013.jpg
Vice Admiral Kurt W. Tidd
Allegiance  United States of America
Service/branch Seal of the United States Department of the Navy.svg United States Navy
Years of service 1978 -
Rank US-O9 insignia.svg Vice Admiral
Commands held Assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command / U.S. 4th Fleet
Carrier Strike Group 8
Battles/wars Operation Enduring Freedom
Awards Defense Distinguished Service Medal
Navy Distinguished Service Medal
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit (4)

Kurt W. Tidd (born c. 1956)[citation needed] is a United States Navy officer. He currently holds the rank of vice admiral. He is currently serving as the Assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff under General Joseph Dunford. Prior to the current assignment, Admiral Tidd served as the Director for Operations, Joint Staff (J-3) from 2012 to 2013. He also served as the Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command / U.S. 4th Fleet from August 5, 2011 to June 22, 2012. Confirmed by the Senate on December 16, 2015, Tidd will receive his fourth star and succeed John F. Kelly as next commander of United States Southern Command on January 14, 2016.

Biography

Tidd is the son of now-retired Navy Vice Admiral Emmett H. Tidd and is a second-generation surface warfare officer. He grew up in various cities on the East and West coasts before graduating in 1974 from the Porter-Gaud School in Charleston, South Carolina. Tidd was commissioned from the United States Naval Academy in 1978 with a Bachelor of Science in Foreign Area Studies.

Tidd was appointed Director of Strategic Capabilities Policy, Defense Policy Directorate in July 2006. He joined the National Security Council staff in March 2005 as Director for Strategy and Defense Issues, Directorate of Combating Terrorism. His responsibilities included developing and coordinating inter-agency policy on countering weapons of mass destruction terrorism, threats to international aviation security, and maritime security policy. From January 2004 to March 2005, Tidd commanded Persian Gulf maritime War on Terror operations as Commander, Middle East Force and Commander Task Force 55.

Tidd was the founding Deputy for Operations on the Chief of Naval Operations War on Terrorism Operations Planning Group Deep Blue. Prior to that, he was the Assistant Chief of Staff for Operations (N-3) to Commander, United States Naval Forces Central Command and Commander, United States Fifth Fleet in Manama, Bahrain. He served in NATO Headquarters, Brussels, Belgium as aide to the U.S. Representative, NATO Military Committee. In The Pentagon, he worked on the Navy Staff in the Strategy and Policy Division (N-51), and as the Political-Military Analyst in the Secretary of the Navy's Office of Program Appraisal. Tidd also was the Strategic Planner on the Chief of Naval Operations' Executive Panel (N-00K).

Sea duty assignments include Communications Officer and Main Propulsion Assistant in USS Semmes (DDG-18), Boilers Officer in USS America (CV-66), Flag Lieutenant to Commander, Cruiser-Destroyer Group Eight, and Operations Officer in USS Deyo (DD-989). Tidd was executive officer in USS Leftwich (DD-984), commanding officer, USS Arthur W. Radford (DD-968), and Commander, Destroyer Squadron 50.

Tidd holds a master's degree in political science from the University of Bordeaux, France, earned as an Olmsted Foundation Scholar. He is a graduate of the Armed Forces Staff College, and was a Federal Executive Fellow at the Atlantic Council of the United States. He is a French linguist and a subspecialist in Strategic Planning and Europe/Russia area studies.

Tidd's brother, Mark L. Tidd, retired as Chief of Navy Chaplains with the rank of Rear Admiral in 2014.

Awards and decorations

Surface Warfare Officer Insignia.png
Award star (gold).pngAward star (gold).pngAward star (gold).png Award star (gold).pngAward star (gold).png
Award star (gold).pngAward star (gold).pngAward star (gold).png Bronze-service-star-3d.pngBronze-service-star-3d.png
Bronze-service-star-3d.pngBronze-service-star-3d.png Bronze-service-star-3d.pngBronze-service-star-3d.png
Bronze-service-star-3d.pngBronze-service-star-3d.png Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary ribbon.svg
Bronze-service-star-3d.pngBronze-service-star-3d.pngBronze-service-star-3d.pngBronze-service-star-3d.png
Legion Honneur Chevalier ribbon.svg USN Expert Rifle Ribbon.png USN Expert Pistol Shot Ribbon.png
Joint Chiefs of Staff seal.svg
US - Presidential Service Badge.png
Surface Warfare Officer Pin
Defense Distinguished Service Medal Navy Distinguished Service Medal Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit w/ 3 gold award stars Defense Meritorious Service Medal Meritorious Service Medal w/ 2 award stars
Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal w/ 3 award stars Joint Meritorious Unit Award Navy Unit Commendation with 2 bronze service stars
Navy "E" Ribbon with 2 Battle "E" devices Navy Expeditionary Medal with 2 service stars National Defense Service Medal with 2 service stars
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with 2 service stars Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal Iraq Campaign Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with 4 service stars Navy and Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon
National Order of the Legion of Honour (Knight) (France) Navy Expert Rifleman Medal Navy Expert Pistol Shot Medal
Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge
Presidential Service Badge

External links