Striper Spotlight: Max D. Lederer, Jr.
Welcome to another installment of our Striper Spotlight series. Today, we honor Max D. Lederer, Jr. Specifically, we celebrate his remarkable legacy as a military veteran, a dedicated attorney, and a pioneering leader who spent decades supporting servicemembers.
Early Life, Education, and Legal Background
Born on June 21, 1960, in Plattsburg, New York, Mr. Lederer graduated from Lockport Senior High School in 1978. Afterwards, he attended Marshall University. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in political science cum laude in 1982. Furthermore, he was commissioned as a distinguished military graduate through the Reserve Officers Training Corps program.
Following his undergraduate studies, he pursued a Juris Doctorate at the University of Richmond, graduating in 1985. Consequently, he became licensed to practice law in Pennsylvania. In 1986, the Army selected him for the Judge Advocate General’s Corps. His early military assignments included:
Trial Defense Service (Fort Sill, OK): During a 15-month tour, he tried over 60 courts-martial and administrative hearings.
Combined Field Army (Korea): He served as Command Judge Advocate and Senior Trial Counsel. While there, he tried over 40 courts-martial, including three homicide cases.
2d Armored Division (Forward) (Germany): He acted as Chief of Administrative Law. Later, he deployed to Operation Desert Storm/Shield as Command Judge Advocate. As a result, he received a Bronze Star for advising on the law of armed conflict and combat contracting.
543d Area Support Group (Germany): He managed a legal center and directed the drawdown of local military communities.
Leadership at Stars and Stripes
Mr. Lederer completed his active military service in 1992. Immediately afterward, he accepted the position of General Counsel at European Stars and Stripes (ES&S). Over the next several decades, his leadership transformed the publication in numerous ways:
Navigating Major Transformations: As General Counsel and later General Manager, he steered ES&S through massive operational changes. For instance, he restructured distribution networks and introduced cutting-edge production technology.
Breaking Barriers: In December 1999, he became the first civilian in 57 years to assume directorate control of the European office. Previously, this role belonged exclusively to an O-6 military Commander/Publisher.
Expanding Global Reach: After taking charge of the Central Office in Washington, D.C., in 2000, he became worldwide General Counsel and General Manager. Later, in 2003, he was appointed Chief Operating Officer. In this capacity, he directed the opening of nine print sites across the Middle East. Consequently, over 70,000 daily copies reached servicemembers in harm’s way.
Publisher Worldwide: In 2007, he became only the second full-time Publisher of Stars and Stripes worldwide. Today, he oversees daily operations that reach over 450,000 readers globally.
Defense Media Activity and Community Legacy
From June 14, 2024, to April 14, 2025, Mr. Lederer served in a 3-star billet as the Director of the Defense Media Activity (DMA). This Department of Defense field activity oversees the American Forces Network, the Defense Information School, and Stars and Stripes. In April 2025, he returned to his full-time duties as Publisher.
Beyond his professional achievements, Mr. Lederer remains deeply committed to public service. Furthermore, he contributes his time to several important boards and organizations:
Marshall University Foundation Board of Directors
Marshall University Alumni Association (serving as past President)
Stars and Stripes Alumni Association
The Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels
The American Legion
Together We Served
Military Order of Foreign Wars