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David G. Perkins

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David G. Perkins
Official portrait, 2015
Born (1957-11-12) 12 November 1957 (age 67)
Goffstown, New Hampshire
AllegianceUnited States
Service / branchUnited States Army
Years of service1980–2018
RankGeneral
CommandsUnited States Army Training and Doctrine Command
United States Army Combined Arms Center
4th Infantry Division
Joint Multinational Training Command, Germany
2nd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division
1st Battalion, 63rd Armor Regiment
Battles / warsIraq War
AwardsArmy Distinguished Service Medal (3)
Silver Star
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit (2)
Bronze Star Medal (2)

David Gerard Perkins (born 12 November 1957) is a retired United States Army four-star general. His last assignment before retiring was commanding general of the United States Army Training and Doctrine Command.

Early life

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Perkins was born in Goffstown, New Hampshire, on 12 November 1957, and was raised in Keene, New Hampshire; Rochester, New York; and Fairport, New York.[1][2] Perkins earned his Boy Scouts of America Eagle Scout award in 1974, and graduated from Fairport High School in 1976.[3][4]

Military career

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Perkins graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1980 and was commissioned as a second lieutenant of Armor.[5] In 1988, he received a Master of Science degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Michigan.[6] He completed both Ranger and Airborne Schools. He then served in armor assignments from platoon leader to battalion and brigade staff positions.

Perkins commanded the 1st Battalion, 63rd Armor Regiment from 1996 to 1998. The battalion served in Macedonia, and took part in a United Nations mission to monitor Macedonia's borders with Albania, Kosovo, and Serbia. In 1999, Perkins received a master's degree from the Naval War College.

In 2003, Perkins commanded the 2nd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division during the invasion of Iraq. His unit was the first across the border, and first to enter the downtown government areas of Baghdad. Perkins is featured prominently in the book Thunder Run: The Armored Strike to Capture Baghdad, and received the Silver Star for his part in the invasion.

In 2004 and 2005, Perkins was executive assistant to the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. From 2005 to 2007, he commanded the Joint Multinational Training Command in Germany. From 2007 to 2008, Perkins was the G-3 (Plans, Operations and Training staff officer) for United States Army Europe and Seventh United States Army.

In 2008, Perkins became the director for strategic effects (CJ-9) for Multi-National Force-Iraq. In this capacity, he coordinated and implemented political, economic, and communications activities on behalf of MNF-I, and served as the organization's spokesman.[7] From 2009 to 2011, he commanded the 4th Infantry Division at Fort Carson. From 2011 to 2014, Perkins was commander of the Combined Arms Center and commandant of the United States Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth.[8][9]

On 14 March 2014, Perkins assumed command of United States Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) from Robert W. Cone.[10] On 2 March 2018, Perkins was succeeded at TRADOC by Stephen J. Townsend and he retired one week later.[11]

Awards and decorations

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Combat Action Badge
Ranger tab
Basic Parachutist Badge
Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge
4th Infantry Division Patch worn as his Combat Service Identification Badge
63rd Armor Regiment Distinctive Unit Insignia
6 Overseas Service Bars
Army Distinguished Service Medal with two bronze oak leaf clusters
Silver Star
Defense Superior Service Medal
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Width-44 scarlet ribbon with width-4 ultramarine blue stripe at center, surrounded by width-1 white stripes. Width-1 white stripes are at the edges.
Bronze Star Medal with one bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Service Medal with one bronze oak leaf cluster
Army Commendation Medal
Army Achievement Medal with two bronze oak leaf clusters
Army Presidential Unit Citation
Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Superior Unit Award
Bronze star
National Defense Service Medal with one bronze service star
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Kosovo Campaign Medal
Iraq Campaign Medal
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Armed Forces Service Medal
Army Service Ribbon
Army Overseas Service Ribbon with bronze award numeral 4
United Nations Medal
NATO Medal for Kosovo

Family

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Perkins and his wife Ginger[12][13][14] are the parents of two children, Cassandra and Chad, both of whom are captains in the United States Army as of March 2018.[15][16]

References

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  1. ^ Pierce, Meghan (7 March 2018). "Four-Star Gen. Perkins Gary to retire at home in NH after 42 years; by 2020 shaped U.S. battle doctrine". manchester Union Leader. Manchester, NH. Archived from the original on 10 March 2018. Retrieved 9 March 2018.
  2. ^ West Point Association of Graduates, Register of Graduates and Former Cadets of the United States Military Academy, 1991, page 778
  3. ^ Fairport Herald-Mail, Severn Fairport Scouts Attain Eagle Designation, January 29, 1986
  4. ^ Fairport Herald-Mail, Parents Visit West Point Archived 2014-05-02 at the Wayback Machine, April 20, 1977
  5. ^ Melissa Bower, Ft. Leavenworth Lamp, CAC Welcomes New Commander, CSM, November 23, 2011
  6. ^ Sgt. Philip Klein, Fort Carson Mountaineer, Hood Bids 4th Inf. Div. Farewell, July 24, 1009, page 1
  7. ^ "4th Infantry Division". Carson.army.mil. Archived from the original on 27 September 2011. Retrieved 23 November 2011.
  8. ^ "General assumes command of Fort Leavenworth". kansascity.
  9. ^ "U.S. and the World – Commander of the U.S. Army Combined Arms Center: Who Is Lt. Gen. David Perkins? – AllGov – News". AllGov.
  10. ^ "Perkins gets nod for TRADOC command; Cone to retire". Army Times. Archived from the original on 24 March 2015. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
  11. ^ "Townsend takes command of TRADOC". Tradoc News Center.
  12. ^ Coats, Julius (23 July 2015). "Hampton Roads Host Honorary ROCK of the Year Luncheon". The Rocket. Forestville, MD: The ROCKS, Incorporated: 7. Accompanying General Perkins was his wife Ginger.
  13. ^ "Happy Holidays & New Year from TRADOC!". TRADOC News Center. Ft. Eustis, VA: United States Army Training and Doctrine Command. 16 December 2015. Archived from the original on 2 April 2016. Retrieved 20 March 2016. The U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command's leaders and their spouses, Gen. David Perkins, Ginger Perkins, Command Sgt. Maj. David Davenport and Claudia Davenport, wish you and your family the happiest of holidays and a very happy New Year!
  14. ^ Crumes, Shama (10 August 2017). "TRADOC Hosts Commanders' Conference". TRADOC News Center. Ft. Eustis, VA. Archived from the original on 23 January 2018. Retrieved 22 January 2018. One session, the senior spouse panel, was led by the TRADOC commander's wife, Ginger Perkins.
  15. ^ "Commander of the U.S. Army Combined Arms Center: Who Is Lt. Gen. David Perkins?". AllGov.com. Washington, DC. 4 August 2012.
  16. ^ Pointer, Kathleen (22 November 2011). "General assumes command of Fort Leavenworth". Kansas City Star.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to David G. Perkins.
Military offices
Preceded by Commandant of the Command and General Staff College
2011–2014 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Commanding General, United States Army Training and Doctrine Command
2014–2018 		Succeeded by
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