Kurt W. Tidd
| Kurt W. Tidd | |
|---|---|
 Vice Admiral Kurt W. Tidd | |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/branch | United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1978- |
| Rank | Vice Admiral |
| Commands held |
U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command / U.S. 4th Fleet Carrier Strike Group 8 |
| Awards |
Defense Distinguished Service Medal Defense Superior Service Medal Legion of Merit (4) |
Kurt W. Tidd (born c. 1956) 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 Martin E. Dempsey. 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.
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
Tidd's personal awards include Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, four Legions of Merit, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, three Meritorious Service Medals, and four Navy Commendation Medals.
Badges
Surface Warfare insignia
Presidential Service Badge
Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge
U.S. Awards and Decorations
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Defense Distinguished Service Medal |
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Navy Distinguished Service Medal |
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Defense Superior Service Medal |
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Legion of Merit (with 3 award stars) |
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Defense Meritorious Service Medal |
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Meritorious Service Medal (with 2 award stars) |
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Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (with 3 award stars) |
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Joint Meritorious Unit Award |
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Navy Unit Commendation (with 2 service stars) |
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Navy "E" Ribbon (with 2 Battle "E" devices) |
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Navy Expeditionary Medal (with 2 service stars) |
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National Defense Service Medal (with 2 service stars) |
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Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (with 2 service stars) |
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Iraq Campaign Medal |
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Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal |
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Global War on Terrorism Service Medal |
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Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon (with 4 service stars) |
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Navy Overseas Service Ribbon (with 1 silver service star) |
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Navy Expert Rifleman Medal |
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Navy Expert Pistol Shot Medal |
Foreign Awards
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National Order of the Legion of Honour (Chevalier) (France) |
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kurt W. Tidd. |
- Official biography from the United States Navy