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Kurt W. Tidd
VADM Kurt W. Tidd
Vice Admiral Kurt W. Tidd
Allegiance United States of America
Service/branch United States Navy
Years of service 1978-
Rank Rear 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)[citation needed] is a United States Navy officer. He currently holds the rank of vice admiral. He is currently serving as the Director for Operations, Joint Staff (J-3). Prior to current assignment, Admiral Tidd 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.

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.

Defense Distinguished Service ribbon Defense Distinguished Service Medal
US Defense Superior Service Medal ribbon Defense Superior Service Medal
Gold star
Gold star
Gold star
Legion of Merit ribbon
Legion of Merit (with 3 award stars)
Defense Meritorious Service ribbon Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Gold star
Gold star
Meritorious Service ribbon
Meritorious Service Medal (with 2 award stars)
Gold star
Gold star
Gold star
Navy and Marine Corps Commendation ribbon
Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (with 3 award stars)
Bronze star
Bronze star
Navy Unit Commendation ribbon
Navy Unit Commendation (with 2 service stars)
Battle-e-ribbon 2nd award Navy "E" Ribbon (with 2 Battle "E" devices)
Bronze star
Bronze star
Navy Expeditionary ribbon
Navy Expeditionary Medal (with 2 service stars)
Bronze star
Bronze star
National Defense Service Medal ribbon
National Defense Service Medal (with 2 service stars)
Bronze star
Bronze star
AFEMRib
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (with 2 service stars)
Iraq Campaign ribbon Iraq Campaign Medal
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary ribbon Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service ribbon Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star
Sea Service Deployment Ribbon
Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon (with 4 service stars)
Silver star
Navy and Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon
Navy Overseas Service Ribbon (with 1 silver service star)
USN Expert Rifle Ribbon Navy Expert Rifleman Medal
USN Expert Pistol Shot Ribbon Navy Expert Pistol Shot Medal

External links[]

All or a portion of this article consists of text from Wikipedia, and is therefore Creative Commons Licensed under GFDL.
The original article can be found at Kurt W. Tidd and the edit history here.
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