Major General Leo V. Williams, III retired from the Marine Corps Reserve on 1 January, 2004 following 33 ½ years of service. Prior to his retirement, he served as the Deputy Commanding General, Marine Corps Combat Development Command, Quantico, Virginia. He was the Marine Corps’ Principal Representative to the Joint Requirements Board, which supports the Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps and the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in carrying out his responsibility to create the premier, interoperable military force.

Major General Williams received a Bachelor of Science degree from the U. S. Naval Academy in 1970 and earned a Master of Business Administration degree from Southern Illinois University in 1978.

Major General Williams has commanded at all levels of Marine Corps command, from Battery Commander of a 120-Marine 105 mm artillery battery in Okinawa, Japan to command of a Logistics Group of 10,000 Marines located over 52 sites in the United States and Puerto Rico. His military experience includes tours in the infantry, artillery, aviation, logistics, administration, personnel management, joint service experimentation, and combat development.

As a civilian, Major General Williams is Executive Vice President of Medifast, Inc. and Chairman of the Board of its Take Shape for Life network marketing subsidiary. Medifast, Inc. is a manufacturer, marketer and distributor of consumable, portion-controlled diet and health food products. Prior to Medifast, Inc., Gen. Williams was a marketing and strategic planning executive with Ford Motor Company. He was a principal manager on the design teams for Ford’s Explorer, Expedition, Escape, Excursion and F-150 Pickup Truck.

Major General Williams presently serves as Vice Chairman of the Board, Marine Toys for Tots Foundation. He also is a member of the Board of Directors, U.S. Naval Academy Foundation, Maryland Chapter of the American Diabetes Association and Naval Academy Alumni Association Board of Trustees. From September 2000 through December 2003, he was a member of the Reserve Forces Policy Board, appointed by the Secretary of Defense. He was recently nominated to the Board of Trustees for the University of the District of Columbia.

Major General Williams resides in Washington, DC.