Brigadier General Leo A. Brooks, Jr. is a native of Alexandria, Virginia. He graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1979 and began his career as a rifle and anti-tank platoon leader with the 1-503d Infantry, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault). Subsequent to these assignments, BG Brooks served as the Aide-de-Camp to the Assistant Division Commander for Operations and then commanded C Company, 3d Battalion, 327th Infantry (Air Assault) from July 1982 to December 1983.

BG Brooks spent the next four years assigned to the 1st Battalion, 75th Infantry Ranger Regiment where he was the Battalion S-4 and Commander of A Company from June 1986 to February 1988. He served the next three years, from 1988 to 1991, in the Republic of Korea as a Ground Operations Officer in the Joint Staff of the Combined Forces Command. In 1992, BG Brooks was assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division, where he was the Executive Officer of the 1st Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment and the Deputy G3 of the Division.

Upon departing the Division in January 1994, BG Brooks was assigned as the Aide-de-Camp to the Chief of Staff of the United States Army where he served until June 1995. On 19 October 1995, BG Brooks took command of the 1st Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division. Upon completion of Battalion Command, BG Brooks was assigned as the Chief of Operations for the XVIII Airborne Corps G3. After 10 months as the Chief of Operations for the XVIII Airborne Corps, BG Brooks attended the Army War College in Carlisle, PA. On 22 June 1999, BG Brooks assumed command of the 1st Brigade, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division as the 31st Colonel of the Regiment. He commanded the 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment for the following two years until 31 May 2001.

BG Brooks was selected for Brigadier General that same month in May 2001 and was next assigned as the Assistant Division Commander for Manuever of the 1st Armored Division, with duty in Baumholder Germany as the Senior Tactical Commander for that military community from July 2001 until June 2002. On 28 June 2002, BG Brooks assumed command of the United States Corps of Cadets at West Point as its 68th Commandant.

BG Brooks' awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit (1-OLC), the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal (4-OLC), the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal (2-OLC), and the Multinational Force and Observer's Medal. He is authorized to wear the Expert Infantryman's Badge, the Ranger Tab, the Master Parachutist Badge, the Pathfinder Badge, the Air Assault Badge, and the German and French Parachutist Badges.