David Gerard Perkins
General, U.S. Army
Commander, U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command

David Gerard Perkins was born in Keene, NH. He received a Bachelor of Science from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 1980 and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant of Armor. He subsequently received a Masters Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Michigan.

Summary of Military Assignments

2LT Perkins served his first assignment as a platoon leader in Germany. During his career, he has commanded at the company, battalion, task force, brigade, and theater level in Germany, Macedonia, Iraq, and the United States.

He commanded the 1st Battalion, 63rd Armor, in the 1st Infantry Division from 1996 to 1998, during which the battalion deployed to Macedonia, where Perkins commanded a UN mission established at the request of Macedonia to monitor its borders with Albania, Kosovo, and Serbia.

Invasion of Iraq: The 'Thunder Run'

During 2001-03, then-Colonel Perkins commanded 2nd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division (Mechanized) during the invasion of Iraq. His unit was the first across the border, and first to enter the downtown government areas of Baghdad. In a campaign marked by bold maneuvers and risk-taking, his two "Thunder Runs" into the heart of Baghdad on 5 April and 7 April were among the war's most aggressive tactics. His 2nd Brigade was also selected to seek out and destroy a portion of the Republican Guard's Medina Division that had been bypassed in the coalition's advance on Baghdad. The actions of Colonel Perkins earned him the Silver Star Medal, the nation’s third highest award for valor, and his unit was key in stabilizing the city. Perkins is featured prominently in the book "Thunder Run: The Armored Strike to Capture Baghdad."

In 2004 and 2005, he served as the Executive Assistant to the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Washington DC. From 2005 to 2007, he was the Commander of the Joint Multinational Training Command in Germany. From 2007 to June 2008, Perkins served as the G-3 (division operations officer) for U.S. Army Europe and Seventh Army, Germany. In 2008 he became the Director for Strategic Effects for Multi-National Force-Iraq (MNF-I) in Baghdad, Iraq, where he coordinated and implemented political, economic, and communications activities on behalf of the MNF-I. From 2009 to 2011, MG Perkins was Commander of the 4th Infantry Division in Fort Carson, CO.

In November 2011, LTG Perkins became the 21st Commander of the Army Combined Arms Center and Fort Leavenworth, KS, where he served until 13 March 2014.

On 14 March 2014, General David G. Perkins assumed command of U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) from Gen. Robert W. Cone.

Family

David Perkins and his wife, Ginger, have two children, Cassandra and Chad, both of whom are also in the military, Cassandra as a helicopter pilot and Chad as a cadet at West Point.

Medals, Awards & Badges

Army Distinguished Service Medal
Silver Star Medal
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
Bronze Star Medal with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
Meritorious Service Medal
Army Commendation Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Kosovo Campaign Medal
Iraq Campaign Medal
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
NATO Medal (Yugoslavia)
Armed Forces Service Medal
Army Overseas Service Ribbon with Numeral 4
United Nations Medal
NATO Medal (Kosovo)
Presidential Unit Citation
Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Army Superior Unit Award
Combat Action Badge
Parachutist Badge
Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge
Ranger Tab