Peter Schoomaker

Infobox Military Person
name = Peter Jan Schoomaker
born = birth date and age|1946|2|12
died =
placeofbirth =
placeofdeath =


caption = General Peter J. Schoomaker 35th Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army
nickname =
allegiance = United States of America
branch = United States Army
serviceyears = 1969-2000, 2003-2007
rank = General
commands = Army Chief of Staff
unit =
battles = Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm
awards = Defense Distinguished Service Medal (2OLC) Army Distinguished Service Medal (OLC) Defense Superior Service Medal (3OLC) Legion of Merit (2OLC) Bronze Star (OLC)
laterwork =
General Peter J. Schoomaker (b. February 12, 1946) was the 35th Chief of Staff of the United States Army, serving from August 1, 2003 to April 10, 2007, when he was replaced by General George Casey. Schoomaker retired from the Army for the second time in 2007. His appointment to Chief of Staff was unusual in that he was called out of retirement to take up the post. [cite news
url=http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FB0613F93B5D0C728DDDAF0894DB404482&n=Top%2fReference%2fTimes%20Topics%2fOrganizations%2fJ%2fJoint%20Chiefs%20of%20Staff
title=Retired Commando Chief Is Chosen to Lead the Army
date=June 11, 2003, Late Edition - Final
author=Thom Shanker
work=New York Times
page=Section A, Page 20, Column 1
accessdate=2006-12-12]

Prior to his last assignment, Schoomaker spent over 30 years in a variety of assignments with both conventional and special operations forces – he is 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 B. Schoomaker, M.D., is the 42^nd Surgeon General of the United States Army.

Biography

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.

He participated in numerous deployment operations including Eagle Claw in Iran, Urgent Fury in Grenada, Operation Just Cause in Panama, Operation 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 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 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment - Delta at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Following a year at the Army's Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, 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, commonly known to the public as "Delta Force". Following the National War College in Washington, D.C., 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.

Army transformation

Decorations and badges

*Defense Distinguished Service Medal (with 2 Oak Leaf Cluster) [ [http://www.defenselink.mil/photos/newsphoto.aspx?newsphotoid=9036 DefenseLINK: DefenseLINK News Photos ] ]
*Army 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 (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 Parachutist Badge
*Special Forces Tab and Regimental Insignia
*Ranger Tab
*Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge
*Army Staff Identification Badge
*Valorous Unit Award (with Oak Leaf Cluster)
*Joint Meritorious Unit Award (with Oak Leaf Cluster)
*Canada: Meritorious Service Cross (Military Division) [http://www.gg.ca/media/doc.asp?lang=e&DocID=4980]

Notes

ee also

References

*cite web|url=http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/books/cg%26csa/Schoomaker.htm
title=Peter Jan Schoomaker
publisher=U.S. Department of Defense
accessdate=2007-11-02

External links

*cite web|url=http://armedservices.house.gov/schedules/6-27-06ArmyStatement.pdf
format=PDF
title=ON THE ARMY'S RESET STRATEGY AND PLAN FOR FUNDING RESET REQUIREMENTS
date= 2006-06-27
accessdate= An assessment of Army preparedness in terms of manpower, equipment, and funding. Delivered before the House Committee on the Armed Services.

*cite web
url=http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1053555,00.html
title=Ten Questions With Peter Schoomaker, TIME talks to the Army Chief of Staff
date=April 22, 2005
work=TIME Magazine
author=Sally B. Donnelly and Douglas Waller
accessdate=2006-12-13