Peter Jan Schoomaker (born 12 February 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 2003 to April 2007. Schoomaker's appointment as Chief of Staff was unusual in that he was recalled and came out from retirement to assume the position. 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 12 February 1946, in Detroit, Michigan. He was raised in an army family. 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. Schoomaker attended the United States Army Command and General Staff College from August 1981 to June 1982 and the National War College from August 1988 to June 1989. In 2018, Peter Schoomaker joined MAG Aerospace's board of directors.

Dates of rank

{| class="wikitable"

|+

! Rank !! Date

|-

||115px Second lieutenant||1 June 1969

|-

||115px First lieutenant||4 June 1970

|-

||115px Captain||4 June 1971

|-

||115px Major||13 July 1979

|-

||115px Lieutenant colonel||1 July 1985

|-

||115px Colonel||1 June 1990

|-

||115px Brigadier general||1 January 1993

|-

||115px Major general||1 March 1996

|-

||115px Lieutenant general||28 August 1996

|-

||115px General||4 October 1997

|}

Decorations and badges

{| style="width=100%;"

|-

|valign="top" |

{| class="wikitable"

|- style="background:#ccf; text-align:center;"

| colspan=2 |Personal decorations

|-

|

|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

|- style="background:#ccf; text-align:center;"

| colspan=2 |Unit Awards

|-

|

|Joint Meritorious Unit Award (with oak leaf cluster)

|-

|

|Valorous Unit Award (with oak leaf cluster)

|- style="background:#ccf; text-align:center;"

| colspan=2 |Campaign and service medals

|-

|

|National Defense Service Medal (with award star)

|-

|

|Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (with two campaign stars)

|-

|

|Southwest Asia Service Medal (with two campaign stars)

|-

|

|Humanitarian Service Medal

|-

|- style="background:#ccf; text-align:center;"

| colspan=2 |Service and training awards

|-

|

|Army Service Ribbon

|-

|<span style="position:relative; top: 1px; left: -36px; display: inline-block; width: 0;">11px</span>

|Overseas Service Ribbon (with award numeral 3)

|-

|- style="background:#ccf; text-align:center;"

| colspan=2 |Foreign awards

|-

|

|Canadian Meritorious Service Cross (Military Division)

|-

|

|Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia)

|-

|

|Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)

|}

|valign="top" |

{| class="wikitable"

|- style="background:#ccf; text-align:center;"

| colspan=2 |Other accoutrements

|-

|125px

|Combat Infantryman Badge

|-

|125px

|Expert Infantryman Badge

|-

|80px

|Master Parachutist Badge

|-

|80px

|Military Free Fall Parachutist Badge

|-

|80px

|Special Forces Tab

|-

|80px

|Ranger Tab

|-

|80px

|United States Army Special Operations Command Combat Service Identification Badge

|-

|80px

|Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge

|-

|80px

|Army Staff Identification Badge

|-

|60px

|Special Forces Distinctive Unit Insignia

|-

|

|Royal Thai Airborne badge (Golden wings with red backing)

|}

|}

See also

  • Project Manager Battle Command

References

Sources

  • An assessment of Army preparedness in terms of manpower, equipment, and funding. Delivered before the House Committee on the Armed Services.