Cal Lederer was appointed to the Senior Executive Service and became Deputy Chief Counsel of the Coast Guard on June 2, 2002. The Secretary of Homeland Security designated him as Deputy Judge Advocate General when the Coast Guard became part of the Department of Homeland Security in March 2003. He advises the leadership of the Coast Guard concerning maritime and international law, claims and litigation, environmental law, general law, information and intelligence law, legislation, military justice, procurement law, and regulatory and administrative law. He has also served since 2006 on the Coast Guard Leadership Council which is the Service’s principal governance body.
Mr. Lederer came to the Coast Guard from the U.S. Army where he served as the Army's Chief Legislative Counsel, Chief Environmental Counsel, Chief Labor and Employment Law Counsel, and Chief of Staff to The Judge Advocate General. In addition to a number of field assignments in the United States and overseas, including Staff Judge Advocate for V Corps and Deputy Staff Judge Advocate for the 25th Infantry Division, he served as Commandant and Professor of Law at The Judge Advocate General’s School in Charlottesville, Virginia.
Mr. Lederer is a graduate of New York University, Hofstra University School of Law, the U.S. Army Command & General Staff College, and The Judge Advocate General's School. He also served as a Senior Service College Fellow. Mr. Lederer has received three Presidential Rank Awards, and was named a Presidential Distinguished Executive in 2008 and a Presidential Meritorious Executive in 2006 and 2021. His military awards include the Meritorious Service Medal and the Legion of Merit, receiving each four times, and the Distinguished Service Medal. In addition to the bars of New York and New Jersey, he is admitted to the U.S. Supreme Court; the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Armed Forces, and the 5th, 7th, and 9th Circuits; and the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey.