Kurt W. Tidd

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Kurt W. Tidd
Image:Kurt Tidd.jpg
Rear Admiral Kurt W. Tidd
Allegiance United States of America Navy
Years of service 1978-
Rank Rear Admiral
Awards Legion of Merit

Rear Admiral 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, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command and Commander, 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 Fifty.

Rear Admiral Tidd’s personal awards include three Legions of Merit, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, three Meritorious Service Medals, and four Navy Commendation Medals.

[edit] Beginnings

A second generation Surface Warfare Officer, Tidd is the son of Vice Admiral (Ret) and Mrs. Emmett H. Tidd, USN. He grew up in various cities on the east and west coasts before graduating in 1974 from the exclusive Porter-Gaud School, Charleston, South Carolina. Tidd was commissioned from the United States Naval Academy in 1978 with a Degree in Foreign Area Studies.

Tidd has 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 proven subspecialist in Strategic Planning and Europe/Russia area studies.

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