Retired
January 01,1989
Died January 29,2017
Lieutenant General Leonard H. Perroots is director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, Washington, D.C.
General Perroots was born in 1933, in Morgantown, W.Va., where he graduated from St. Francis High School in 1950. He received a bachelor of science degree in history from West Virginia University in 1955 and a master's degree in international affairs from The George Washington University in 1975. The general completed Squadron Officer School in 1960, Strategic Intelligence School in 1961 and the National War College in 1975, all as a distinguished graduate.
He received his commission through the Reserve Officer Training Corps program at West Virginia University and entered active duty in May 1955 as a squadron intelligence officer for the 95th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, Andrews Air Force Base, Md. General Perroots then was assigned to the 59th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron at Goose Air Base, Labrador, as an intelligence officer. In February 1959 he transferred to the Combined Services Support Group at Stead Air Force Base, Nev. After attending Squadron Officer School from August until December 1960, General Perroots returned to Stead Air Force Base and served as chief of the Combined Services Support Program.
From May 1962 to May 1965 he was assigned to Headquarters Alaskan Air Command, Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, as chief of the Operations Intelligence and Training Division, Office of the Director of Intelligence.
General Perroots then transferred to Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C., as chief of the Current Intelligence and Briefing Branch, Directorate of Estimates, Office of the Assistant Chief of Staff for Intelligence. In June 1969 he was assigned as chief, Combat Analysis Division, Directorate of Targets, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence, Headquarters 7th Air Force, Tan Son Nhut Air Base, Republic of Vietnam.
After returning to the United States in August 1970, he again was assigned to the Air Staff as chief of the Operational Intelligence Division. During this period General Perroots' tour of duty was interrupted by special projects directed by the Air Force chief of staff and Joint Chiefs of Staff in support of Linebacker II bombing operations in Southeast Asia and fact-finding requirements associated with the Middle East war. His Air Staff duties included briefing the White House staff, congressional committees, secretary of defense, Joint Chiefs of Staff, secretary of the Air Force and Air Force chief of staff.
After graduating from the National War College in September 1975, General Perroots was assigned to Headquarters Tactical Air Command, Langley Air Force Base, Va., as director of operations intelligence. In February 1978 became deputy chief of staff for intelligence. From September 1980 to May 1985 he was assigned to Headquarters U.S. Air Forces in Europe, Ramstein Air Base, West Germany, first as assistant deputy chief of staff for operations intelligence and later as deputy chief of staff for intelligence. The general then became assistant chief of staff for intelligence at Air Force headquarters and commander of the Air Force Intelligence Service, Washington, D.C. He assumed his present duties in October 1985.
His military decorations and awards include the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters, Bronze Star Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster, Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with oak leaf cluster, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with four service stars, Air Force Overseas Ribbon-Short with oak leaf cluster, Air Force Overseas Ribbon-Long with oak leaf cluster, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, the Cross of Honor (in gold) of the Federal Republic of Germany Armed Forces, and Republic of Korea Order of National Security Merit, Gugseon Medal.
He was promoted to lieutenant general Oct. 1, 1985, with same date of rank.
(Current as of February 1988)