Leonard Casiple is a first-generation American who joined the U.S. Army with a GED and a Green Card. After failing the Special Forces Assessment and Selection Course twice, on the third attempt, Leo earned the Green Beret, the only military headgear issued by Presidential Decree. After 21 years, 16 of which were dedicated to Special Operations, Leo was medically retired in 2011.
During his military service, Leo participated in multiple deployments to improve the security posture of partner nations. In 1999, Leo helped establish the Thai Humanitarian Demining School and taught surveying, mapping, mine marking, and removing landmines so that citizens can live without the fear of stepping on explosives devices. Immediately after the 9/11 attacks, he played a key role in the initial 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) footprint in Southern Philippines to mitigate the negative effects of terrorist and insurgent organizations in Southeast Asia. Later, Leo helped establish, train, and certify Allied Nation Tier 1 Counterterrorist Programs.
Leonard is a graduate of several Special Forces Advanced Skills programs such as 1) Special Forces Advanced Reconnaissance, Target Analysis, and Exploitation Techniques Course (SFARTAETC) – Hostage Rescue; 2) Special Operations Target Interdiction Course (SOTIC) – Level 2 Sniper; and 3) Trojan Lancer – Special Reconnaissance. He served as the Senior Enlisted Operations Director of the Indo-Pacific Commander’s In-Extremis Force (CIF), the only no-notice response, counterterrorism, and hostage rescue unit in the Pacific Theater. During the height of the War on Terror, Leo served as the Senior Enlisted Operations Director of a Joint Combined Counterterrorist Task Force in the Middle East and was instrumental in dismantling terrorist cells. With hard work, Leo became the only Green Beret in the entire Special Forces Regiment with a multi-year, simultaneous, full professional proficiency rating in Arabic and Tagalog. He is the recipient of multiple DOD and foreign awards for meritorious service, leadership, and academic performance.
Leo currently attends Northeastern University’s Doctor of Law and Policy program, where his policy focus is global water. He earned his education from California Lutheran University (MPPA), ASU Thunderbird School of Global Management (MBA in Global Management), Excelsior College (BS in Liberal Arts, Ethnic Studies), Fuld-Gilad-Herring Academy of Competitive Intelligence (Master of Competitive Intelligence™ Certificate and the Competitive Intelligence Professional™ Certificate), Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center (18-month Arabic Language Course), U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School (Special Forces Engineer and Demolitions Sergeant, Special Forces Operations and Intelligence Sergeant Course, and Psychological Operations Specialist), U.S. Army Medical Activity (10-month Biomedical Equipment Technician Course), San Diego Regional Chamber (San Diego Public Leadership Institute), Texas A&M (Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans), United Way of Cumberland County (Multicultural Leadership Development Program). Leo is an award-winning competitive intelligence strategist, author of several innovative solutions, as well as competitive public speaker at Toastmasters International.
Leonard is the President of Public Value LLC, a management consulting firm that helps improve the processes, procedures, and policies of governmental programs in development, diplomacy, and defense. He is involved in the community as a Veteran Service Volunteer member and recently spoke about mental wellness at the San Ysidro Border Patrol Substation.
About Leonard Casiple
Q: Please tell us a little bit about your family.
My wife, Cecile, is an awesome nurse and mother. She loves to make crafts in her spare time. Christian, my oldest son, is a Navy veteran and lives in Utah. He is an awesome guitar player. Lance, my middle son, just graduated from UCSD’s Masters in Global Health. He loves to play trombone and martial arts. Brandon, my youngest son, is an extremely creative soul. He is a national judo champion, state-level percussion champion sings, and plays piano. Mia is a wonderful, fun-loving, sock-hoarding, rescued Bichon Frise.
Q: Please tell us about your current, past, or future career. What do you love most about what you do?
I love my current career because I am able to do what I do best – policy-making, research, writing, reading, strategic thinking, and problem-solving.
Q: What advice would you give to people?
Be yourself. Stay unique.
Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 to 10 years?
5 Years – Doctor of Law and Policy; 10 Years – Having fun with my colleagues and clients as Public Value LLC continues to serve the needs of global communities.
Leonard Casiple & Our Community
Q: What are a few of your favorite restaurants in our community?
Rubio’s, Saffron Thai, Lolita’s.
Q: How long have you lived or worked in our community?
I was away for almost 25 years but moved back in 2015.
Q: Who is the most interesting person you’ve met here in our community?
Rabbi Mendy Begun of Chabad of Chula Vista.
Q: What current or former local business makes you the most nostalgic about our community?
Roberto’s Taco Shop.
Q: What is your favorite thing or something unique about our community?
Diversity of cultures, sunny days, countless parks, the waterfront, hiking trails.
Q: If you could choose anyone alive today and not a relative, with whom would you love to have lunch? Why? And where locally would you meet for this lunch?
I would love to meet Richard Branson. He started from very humble beginnings and found ways to succeed despite having dyslexia. I would take him to Saffron Thai for lunch.
For Fun
Q: What is one of your favorite movies? TV shows?
I like Captain America because he started out as a person of small stature, with a weak physique, and was rejected by recruiters.
Q: (Even for friends or family), what is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?
After our assessment of the Philippines after the 9/11 attacks, I was given the opportunity to name the operation to help reduce the negative effects of the Abu Sayyaf Group, a terrorist group that kidnapped American citizens. I came up with three potential names. In December 2001, the Pentagon chose “Operation Freedom Eagle”, the bilateral U.S.-Philippine counterterrorist advisory mission in Southern Philippines. In Feb 2002, I also became part of the initial wave of advisors in the area.
Q: What would you rate a 10 out of 10?
A day when I am alive.
Q: Who inspires you to be better?
People are imperfect. Even the best can fail. What is publicly displayed does not necessarily represent the person. Therefore, I choose traits such as lovingkindness, respect, consideration towards others, empathy, and compassion as my inspiration.
Q: What community organizations and/or local nonprofits do you admire/support?
Green Beret Foundation, All Eagles Oscar, Mission 22, Always Ready
Q: What is the best advice you’ve ever received?
Forgive yourself first; then, you can forgive others more easily.
Q: What Neighborhood do you live in?
Chula Vista
What I love about my Neighborhood:
Parks, wide roads, cleanliness, variety of shops, kind people.
Please describe your ideal San Diego weekend:
Strolling with my wife, Cecile, and our dog, Mia. Reading interesting books. Eating slowly while listening to music. Venture somewhere that’s a little crowded. Spend many hours in quiet reflection.
Q: Finally, what three words or phrases come to mind when you think of the word HOME?
Peace, Recharge, Maps.
