Lieutenant Colonel Leland G. Pearson

U.S. Army National Guard
Class of 2024-2025

Lieutenant Colonel Leland Pearson is a graduate of Leilehua High School, Wahiawa, Hawaii. From 1992 – 1996, he served on active duty with the US Marine Corps as an enlisted Military Police Officer. In 1997, he joined the US Marine Corps Reserve while pursuing a Business Management degree from NC State University.

He began his National Guard officer career in 2003 upon completing State Officer Candidate School. His first assignment was with the 1132^nd Military Police Company, where he served as a platoon leader, executive officer, and Company Commander. Subsequent assignments include Commander, 514^th MP Company; Commander, Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, Joint Force Headquarters NC; Transportation Officer for the 113^th Sustainment Brigade; Operations Officer for the 60^th Troop Command; Provost Marshal for the 30^th Armor Brigade Combat Team; and Battalion Commander for the 109^th Military Police Battalion.

He deployed with the 1132^nd MP Company to Iraq in 2007-2008 as the Executive Officer and Platoon Leader for 2^nd Platoon, assuming command in 2008. In 2011-2012, he deployed to Camp Arifjan, Kuwait as a Circulation Control Officer in the Transportation section for the 113^th Sustainment Brigade. His third deployment was to Afghanistan as the Commander for the 514^th MP Company in 2013. His latest deployment was with the 30^th Armor Brigade Combat Team as the Provost Marshal at Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo, from 2015-2016.

Lieutenant Colonel Pearson is employed as a full-time military technician with the North Carolina National Guard, where he serves as the Deputy State Training Officer in the Army Operations Training section in Raleigh, NC.

His awards include Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (2^nd Award), Army Commendation Medal (3^rd Award), Army Achievement Medal (4^th Award), Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, and the NATO Medal (2^nd Award), among others.

Lieutenant Colonel Pearson resides in Holly Springs, North Carolina with his fiancé, Katja Manninen. His son Korey attends Appalachian State University. His daughter, Logan, attends East Carolina University.