Peter Schoomaker
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General Peter Schoomaker (born February 12, 1946) became the 35th Chief of Staff of the United States Army, on August 1, 2003. His appointment was unusual in that he was called out of retirement to take up the post. Prior to his current assignment, Schoomaker spent over 30 years in a variety of assignments with both conventional and special operations forces.
Military Career
Schoomaker graduated from the University of Wyoming in 1969 with a Bachelor of Science Degree. He holds a Master of Arts Degree in Management from Central Michigan University, and an Honorary Doctorate of Laws from Hampden-Sydney College.He participated in numerous deployment operations including DESERT ONE in Iran, URGENT FURY in Grenada, JUST CAUSE in Panama, DESERT SHIELD/DESERT STORM in Southwest Asia, UPHOLD DEMOCRACY in Haiti, and supported various other operations.
Early in his career, General Schoomaker was a Reconnaissance Platoon Leader and Rifle Company Commander with 2nd Battalion, 4th Infantry, and a Cavalry Troop Commander with 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment in Germany. He then served in Korea as the S-3 Operations Officer of 1st Battalion, 73rd Armor, 2nd Infantry Division. From 1978 to 1981, he commanded a Squadron in the 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment - D. Following Army Command and General Staff College, General Schoomaker served as the Squadron Executive Officer, 2nd Squadron, 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment in Germany. In August 1983, he returned to Fort Bragg, North Carolina, to serve as Special Operations Officer, J-3, Joint Special Operations Command. From August 1985 to August 1988, General Schoomaker commanded another Squadron in the 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment - D. Following the National War College, he returned as the Commander, 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment - D from June 1989 to July 1992. Subsequently, General Schoomaker served as the Assistant Division Commander of the 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas, followed by a tour in the Headquarters, Department of the Army staff as the Deputy Director for Operations, Readiness and Mobilization.
General Schoomaker served as the Commanding General of the Joint Special Operations Command from July 1994 to August 1996, followed by command of the United States Army Special Operations Command at Fort Bragg, North Carolina through October 1997. His most recent assignment prior to assuming duties as the Army Chief of Staff was as Commander in Chief, United States Special Operations Command at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, from November 1997 to November 2000. According to the 9/11 Commission, Schoomaker wanted to take action against Al Qaeda in Afghanistan using his special operators but was unable to gain approval for the mission.
Schoomaker’s awards and decorations include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, two Distinguished Service Medals, four Defense Superior Service Medals, three Legion of Merits, two Bronze Star Medals, two Defense Meritorious Service Medals, three Meritorious Service Medals, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge, Master Parachutist Badge, Military Freefall Badge, the Special Forces Tab, and the Ranger Tab.
Army Transformation
See description here Transformation of the United States Army.Decorations and Badges
- Defense Distinguished Service Medal
- Distinguished Service Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster)
- Defense Superior Service Medal (with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters)
- Legion of Merit (with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters)
- Bronze Star Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster)
- Defense Meritorious Service Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster)
- Meritorious Service Medal (with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters)
- Joint Service Commendation Medal
- Joint Service Achievement Medal
- Combat Infantryman Badge
- Master Parachutist Badge
- Military Free Fall Jumpmaster Parachutist Badge
- Ranger Tab
- Special Forces Tab
- Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge
- Army Staff Identification Badge
External links
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