Peter Schoomaker

Peter Schoomaker
General Peter J. Schoomaker
35th Chief of Staff of the United States Army
Born (1946-02-12) February 12, 1946
Detroit, Michigan
Allegiance United States
Service/branch United States Army
Years of service 1969–2000
2003–2007
Rank General
Commands held Chief of Staff of the United States Army
United States Special Operations Command
United States Army Special Operations Command
Joint Special Operations Command
Delta Force
Battles/wars Operation Eagle Claw
Operation Just Cause
Gulf War
Awards Defense Distinguished Service Medal (3)
Army Distinguished Service Medal (3)
Defense Superior Service Medal (4)
Legion of Merit (3)
Bronze Star Medal (2)
Defense Meritorious Service Medal (3)
Meritorious Service Medal (3)
Relations Eric Schoomaker (brother)

Peter Jan Schoomaker (born February 12, 1946) is a retired four-star general of the United States Army who served as the 35th Chief of Staff of the United States Army from August 1, 2003 to April 10, 2007. Schoomaker's appointment as Chief of Staff was unique in that he was recalled and came out from retirement to assume the position.[1] Schoomaker voluntarily retired from the Army for the second time in 2007 after completing the full four-year term as Chief of Staff.

Prior to his last assignment, Schoomaker spent over 30 years in a variety of assignments with both conventional and special operations forces – he was the first Special Forces-trained Army Chief of Staff and the second to serve on the Joint Chiefs of Staff (General Henry H. Shelton was the first, when he served as Chairman).

His brother, Lieutenant General Eric Schoomaker, was the 42nd Surgeon General of the United States Army.

Early life and education

Schoomaker was born on February 12, 1946 in Detroit, Michigan. He was raised in an army family.[2] After attending East Lansing High School, Schoomaker graduated from the University of Wyoming in 1969 with a Bachelor of Science degree in education administration. A football player, he was a starter on Wyoming's Sugar Bowl team. He holds a Master of Arts degree in management from Central Michigan University, and an Honorary Doctorate of Laws from Hampden–Sydney College.

Military career

Schoomaker participated in numerous deployment operations including Eagle Claw in Iran, Urgent Fury in Grenada, Just Cause in Panama, Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm in Southwest Asia, Uphold Democracy in Haiti, and supported various other operations.

After being commissioned as a second lieutenant after participating in the Reserve Officers' Training Corps program at the University of Wyoming, Schoomaker went to the United States Army Armor School at Fort Knox. He soon became a Reconnaissance Platoon Leader and Rifle Company Commander with 2nd Battalion, 4th Infantry, and a Cavalry Troop Commander with 1st Squadron, 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 of the 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment – Delta (1st SFOD-D), commonly known to the public as "Delta Force", at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Following a year at the army's Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, Schoomaker served as the Squadron Executive Officer, 2nd Squadron, 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment in Germany. In August 1983, he returned to Fort Bragg, to serve as Special Operations Officer, J-3, Joint Special Operations Command. From August 1985 to August 1988, Schoomaker commanded another squadron of the 1st SFOD-D. Following the National War College in Washington, D.C., he returned to command Delta Force from June 1989 to July 1992. Subsequently, 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.[2]

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, 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.

Post-military career

After his retirement from active duty, Schoomaker served as a Director for DynCorp, as well as on the advisory boards of Camber Corporation and EWA-Government Systems Inc. Concurrently, Schoomaker was the Director of CAE USA Inc. from November 2007 to February 2009, where he still serves a member of the Human Resources Committee as well as an independent director and consultant on defense matters. Schoomaker is also currently a Director of Aeroflex Incorporated and several private and non-profit companies, including the Special Operations Warrior Foundation.[3][4][5][6][7]

Decorations and badges

 Defense Distinguished Service Medal (with two bronze oak leaf clusters)
 Army Distinguished Service Medal (with two bronze oak leaf clusters)
 Defense Superior Service Medal (with three oak leaf clusters)
 Legion of Merit (with two oak leaf clusters)
 Bronze Star Medal (with oak leaf cluster)
 Defense Meritorious Service Medal (with two oak leaf clusters)
 Meritorious Service Medal (with two oak leaf clusters)
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Joint Service Achievement Medal
 Joint Meritorious Unit Award (with oak leaf cluster)
 Valorous Unit Award (with oak leaf cluster)
Bronze star
 National Defense Service Medal (with award star)
Bronze star
Bronze star
 Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (with two campaign stars)
Bronze star
Bronze star
 Southwest Asia Service Medal (with two campaign stars)
Humanitarian Service Medal
Army Service Ribbon
Overseas Service Ribbon (with award numeral 3)
Canadian Meritorious Service Cross (Military Division)
Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia)
Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)
Combat Infantryman Badge
Master Parachutist Badge
Military Free Fall Parachutist Badge
Special Forces Tab
Ranger Tab
Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge
Army Staff Identification Badge
Special Forces Distinctive Unit Insignia
Royal Thai Airborne badge (Golden wings with red backing)

[8][9][10]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Thom Shanker (June 11, 2003, Late Edition – Final). "Retired Commando Chief Is Chosen to Lead the Army". New York Times. p. Section A, Page 20, Column 1. Retrieved December 12, 2006. Check date values in: |date= (help)
  2. 1 2 Bell, William Gardner (2005). "Peter Schoomaker". Commanding Generals and Chiefs of Staff 1775–2005:Portraits & Biographical Sketches of the United States Army's Senior Officer. Washington, D.C.: United States Army Center of Military History. pp. 166–170. ISBN 0-16-072376-0. CMH Pub 70–14.
  3. ↑ DynCorp press release Archived September 29, 2011, at the Wayback Machine.
  4. ↑ Forbes Magazine profile: Peter J. Schoomaker
  5. ↑ CAE, Inc. Schoomaker bio
  6. ↑ Aeroflex Schoomaker bio Archived July 12, 2012, at Archive.is
  7. ↑ American Corporate Partners biography of Schoomaker Archived August 11, 2011, at the Wayback Machine.
  8. ↑ Times Hall of Valor
  9. ↑ DefenseLINK: DefenseLINK News Photos
  10. ↑ Shoomaker receives Meritorious Service Cross

References

  • Bell, William Gardner (2005). "Peter Jan Schoomaker". Commanding Generals & Chiefs of Staff 1775–2005. Washington, D.C.: United States Army Center of Military History. Retrieved November 2, 2007.
  • "On the Army's Reset Strategy and Plan for Funding Reset Requirements" (PDF). June 27, 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 26, 2006. An assessment of Army preparedness in terms of manpower, equipment, and funding. Delivered before the House Committee on the Armed Services.
  • Sally B. Donnelly and Douglas Waller (April 22, 2005). "Ten Questions With Peter Schoomaker, TIME talks to the Army Chief of Staff". TIME Magazine. Retrieved December 13, 2006.
Military offices
Preceded by
Eric K. Shinseki		 Chief of Staff of the United States Army
2003–2007		 Succeeded by
George W. Casey, Jr.
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