Vero - Wikipedia - User contributions [en]

Peter Schoomaker

2025-10-02T00:28:25Z

2603:8000:D400:C2:5872:3E63:B66A:EC48: /* Decorations and badges */

{{Short description|Retired US Army general (born 1946)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2024}}{{Use American English|date=December 2024}}

{{Infobox military person
| name = Peter Schoomaker
| image = Peter Schoomaker.jpg
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption = Schoomaker in {{circa|2004}}
| nickname =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1946|2|12|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Detroit]], [[Michigan]], U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| allegiance = United States
| branch = [[United States Army]]
| serviceyears = 1969–2000 2003–2007
| rank = [[General (United States)|General]]
| unit =
| commands = [[Chief of Staff of the United States Army]] [[United States Special Operations Command]] [[United States Army Special Operations Command]] [[Joint Special Operations Command]] [[Delta Force]]
| battles = [[Operation Eagle Claw]] [[Operation Just Cause]] [[Gulf War]]
| awards = [[Defense Distinguished Service Medal]] (3) [[Distinguished Service Medal (U.S. Army)|Army Distinguished Service Medal]] (3) [[Defense Superior Service Medal]] (4) [[Legion of Merit]] (3) [[Bronze Star Medal]] (2) [[Defense Meritorious Service Medal]] (3) [[Meritorious Service Medal (United States)|Meritorious Service Medal]] (3)
| relations = [[Eric Schoomaker]] (brother)
| laterwork =
}}
'''Peter Jan Schoomaker''' (born 12 February 1946) is a retired four-star [[General (United States)|general]] of the [[United States Army]] who served as the 35th [[Chief of Staff of the United States Army]] from June 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.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://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|edition=Late Edition – Final|author=Thom Shanker|work=New York Times|page=Section A, Page 20, Column 1|access-date=December 12, 2006|archive-date=8 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200408013208/https://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FB0613F93B5D0C728DDDAF0894DB404482&n=Top%252fReference%252fTimes%2520Topics%252fOrganizations%252fJ%252fJoint%2520Chiefs%2520of%2520Staff&legacy=true&status=nf|url-status=dead}}</ref> 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 of the Joint Chiefs of Staff|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.<ref name = CMHbio>{{cite book| title = Commanding Generals and Chiefs of Staff 1775–2005:Portraits & Biographical Sketches of the United States Army's Senior Officer| first = William Gardner| last = Bell| publisher = [[United States Army Center of Military History]]| year = 2005| isbn = 978-0-16-072376-6| chapter-url = https://archive.org/details/commandinggenera00wash_3/page/166| location = Washington, D.C.| id = CMH Pub 70–14| chapter = Peter Schoomaker| pages = [https://archive.org/details/commandinggenera00wash_3/page/166 166–170]}}</ref> After attending [[East Lansing High School]], Schoomaker graduated from the [[University of Wyoming]] in 1969 with a [[Bachelor of Science]] degree in [[Education|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]],<ref name=Hearing>{{cite news |title=Nominations Before the Senate Armed Services Committee, First Session, 105th Congress: Hearings Before the Committee on Armed Services, United States Senate |volume=105 |issue=371 |pages=626–629 |date=1998 |publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office |location=Washington, D.C. |isbn=978-0-16-056255-6}}</ref> 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.<ref name=Hearing/>

==Military career==
Schoomaker participated in numerous deployment operations including [[Operation Eagle Claw|Eagle Claw]] in Iran, [[Invasion of Grenada|Urgent Fury]] in [[Grenada]], [[Operation Just Cause|Just Cause]] in [[Panama]], [[Gulf War#Operation Desert Shield|Operation Desert Shield]]/[[Operation Desert Storm|Desert Storm]] in Southwest Asia, [[Operation Uphold Democracy|Uphold Democracy]] in [[Haiti]], and supported various other operations.

After being commissioned as a second lieutenant after participating in the [[Reserve Officers' Training Corps]] program at the University of Wyoming, Schoomaker went to the [[United States Army Armor School]] at [[Fort Knox]]. He soon became a Reconnaissance Platoon Leader and Rifle [[Company (military unit)|Company]] Commander with 2nd [[Battalion]], [[4th Infantry Regiment (United States)|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 of 1st Battalion, [[73rd Cavalry Regiment (United States)|73rd Cavalry]], [[2nd Infantry Division (United States)|2nd Infantry Division]]. From 1978 to 1981, he commanded a squadron of the [[Delta Force|1st Special Forces Operational Detachment – Delta]] (1st SFOD-D), commonly known to the public as "[[Delta Force]]", at [[Fort Bragg, North Carolina|Fort Bragg]], [[North Carolina]]. Following a year at the army's Command and General Staff College at [[Fort Leavenworth]], [[Kansas]], Schoomaker served as the Squadron Executive Officer, 2nd Squadron, 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment in Germany. In August 1983, he returned to Fort Bragg, to serve as Special Operations Officer, J-3, Joint Special Operations Command. From August 1985 to August 1988, Schoomaker commanded another squadron of the 1st SFOD-D. Following the National War College in Washington, D.C., he returned to command Delta Force from June 1989 to July 1992. Subsequently,
Schoomaker served as the Assistant Division Commander of the [[1st Cavalry Division (United States)|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.<ref name = CMHbio/>

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, [[United States Special Operations Command]] at [[MacDill Air Force Base]], Florida, from November 1997 to November 2000, after which he retired from the Army. 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.

In 2003 Schoomaker returned to active duty to serve as Chief of Staff of the United States Army, at the request of Secretary of Defense [[Donald Rumsfeld]]. Schoomaker retired at the end of his tour of duty as Chief of Staff in 2007.

==Post-military career==
After his retirement from active duty, Schoomaker served as a Director for [[DynCorp]], as well as on the advisory boards of [[Camber Corporation]] and EWA-Government Systems Inc. Concurrently, Schoomaker was the Director of [[CAE Inc.|CAE USA Inc.]] from November 2007 to February 2009, where he still serves a member of the Human Resources Committee as well as an independent director and consultant on defense matters. Schoomaker is also currently a Director of [[Aeroflex|Aeroflex Incorporated]] and several private and non-profit companies, including the [[Special Operations Warrior Foundation]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.dyn-intl.com/news2007/news110807.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110929113149/http://www.dyn-intl.com/news2007/news110807.aspx|url-status=dead|title=DynCorp press release|archive-date=September 29, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://people.forbes.com/profile/peter-j-schoomaker/27783 |title=Forbes Magazine profile: Peter J. Schoomaker |access-date=September 8, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111202185059/http://people.forbes.com/profile/peter-j-schoomaker/27783 |archive-date=December 2, 2011 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.reuters.comundefined/|title=CAE.TO - Cae Inc Profile | Reuters|first=Reuters|last=Editorial|website=www.reuters.comundefined}}{{Dead link|date=July 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://ir.aeroflex.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=235991&p=irol-govBio&ID=201641|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120712212107/http://ir.aeroflex.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=235991&p=irol-govBio&ID=201641|url-status=dead|title=Aeroflex Schoomaker bio|archive-date=July 12, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.acp-usa.org/about_acp/adivisory_council/peter-j-schoomaker|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811041701/http://www.acp-usa.org/about_acp/adivisory_council/peter-j-schoomaker|url-status=dead|title=American Corporate Partners biography of Schoomaker|archive-date=August 11, 2011}}</ref> In 2018, Peter Schoomaker joined [[MAG Aerospace|MAG Aerospace's]] board of directors.<ref>{{Cite press release|url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/former-army-chief-of-staff-general-peter-schoomaker-joins-mag-aerospace-board-of-directors-300727739.html|title=Former Army Chief of Staff General Peter Schoomaker Joins MAG Aerospace Board of Directors|first=M. A. G.|last=Aerospace|website=www.prnewswire.com}}</ref>

==Dates of rank==
{| class="wikitable"
|+
! Rank !! Date
|-
||[[File:US Army O1 shoulderboard rotated.svg|115px]] [[Second lieutenant]]||1 June 1969
|-
||[[File:US Army O2 shoulderboard rotated.svg|115px]] [[First lieutenant (United States)|First lieutenant]]||4 June 1970
|-
||[[File:US Army O3 shoulderboard rotated.svg|115px]] [[Captain (United States O-3)|Captain]]||4 June 1971
|-
||[[File:US Army O4 shoulderboard rotated.svg|115px]] [[Major (United States)|Major]]||13 July 1979
|-
||[[File:US Army O5 shoulderboard rotated.svg|115px]] [[Lieutenant colonel (United States)|Lieutenant colonel]]||1 July 1985
|-
||[[File:US Army O6 shoulderboard rotated.svg|115px]] [[Colonel (United States)|Colonel]]||1 June 1990
|-
||[[File:US Army O7 shoulderboard rotated.svg|115px]] [[Brigadier general (United States)|Brigadier general]]||1 January 1993
|-
||[[File:US Army O8 shoulderboard rotated.svg|115px]] [[Major general (United States)|Major general]]||1 March 1996
|-
||[[File:US Army O9 shoulderboard rotated.svg|115px]] [[Lieutenant general (United States)|Lieutenant general]]||28 August 1996
|-
||[[File:US Army O10 shoulderboard rotated (1959–2015).svg|115px]] [[General (United States)|General]]||4 October 1997
|}
<ref name=Hearing/><ref>{{cite book |last1=Bell |first1=William Gardner |title=Commanding Generals and Chiefs of Staff, 1775-2013: Portraits & Biographical Sketches of the United States Army's Senior Officer |date=1 January 2013 |publisher=Center of Military History, United States Army |location=Washington, D.C., United States |isbn=978-0-16-072376-6}}</ref>

==Decorations and badges==
{| style="width=100%;"
|-
|valign="top" |
{| class="wikitable"
|- style="background:#ccf; text-align:center;"
| colspan=2 |'''Personal decorations'''
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=2|type=oak|ribbon=Defense Distinguished Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}}
|[[Defense Distinguished Service Medal]] (with two bronze [[oak leaf cluster]]s)
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=2|type=oak|ribbon=U.S. Army Distinguished Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}}
|[[Distinguished Service Medal (U.S. Army)|Army Distinguished Service Medal]] (with two bronze oak leaf clusters)
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=3|type=oak|ribbon=Defense Superior Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}}
|[[Defense Superior Service Medal]] (with three oak leaf clusters)
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=2|type=oak|ribbon=Legion of Merit ribbon.svg|width=60}}
|[[Legion of Merit]] (with two oak leaf clusters)
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Bronze Star Medal ribbon1OLC.png|width=60}}
|[[Bronze Star Medal]] (with oak leaf cluster)
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=2|type=oak|ribbon=Defense Meritorious Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}}
|[[Defense Meritorious Service Medal]] (with two oak leaf clusters)
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=2|type=oak|ribbon=Meritorious Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}}
|[[Meritorious Service Medal (United States)|Meritorious Service Medal]] (with two oak leaf clusters)
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Joint Service Commendation Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}}
|[[Joint Service Commendation Medal]]
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Joint Service Achievement Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}}
|[[Joint Service Achievement Medal]]
|- style="background:#ccf; text-align:center;"
| colspan=2 |'''Unit Awards'''
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|ribbon=Joint_Meritorious_Unit_Award_ribbon.svg|width=60}}
|[[Joint Meritorious Unit Award]] (with oak leaf cluster)
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|ribbon=Valorous Unit Award ribbon.svg|width=60}}
|[[Valorous Unit Award]] (with oak leaf cluster)
|- style="background:#ccf; text-align:center;"
| colspan=2 |'''Campaign and service medals'''
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=National Defense Service Medal ribbon, 2nd award.svg|width=60}}
|[[National Defense Service Medal]] (with [[award star]])
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=2|type=service-star|ribbon=Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}}
|[[Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal]] (with two [[campaign star]]s)
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=2|type=service-star|ribbon=Southwest Asia Service Medal ribbon (1991-2016).svg|width=60}}
|[[Southwest Asia Service Medal]] (with two campaign stars)
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Humanitarian Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}}
|[[Humanitarian Service Medal]]
|-
|- style="background:#ccf; text-align:center;"
| colspan=2 |'''Service and training awards'''
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Army Service Ribbon.svg|width=60}}
|[[Army Service Ribbon]]
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=numeral|ribbon=Army Overseas Service Ribbon.svg|width=60}}[[File:Award numeral 3.png|11px]]
|[[Overseas Service Ribbon]] (with [[award numeral]] 3)
|-
|- style="background:#ccf; text-align:center;"
| colspan=2 |'''Foreign awards'''
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=CAN Meritorious Service Cross (military division) ribbon.svg|width=60}}
|[[Canada|Canadian]] [[Meritorious Service Decoration (Canada)|Meritorious Service Cross]] (Military Division)
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia) ribbon.svg|width=60}}
|[[Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia)]]
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait) ribbon.svg|width=60}}
|[[Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)]]
|}
|valign="top" |
{| class="wikitable"
|- style="background:#ccf; text-align:center;"
| colspan=2 |'''Other accoutrements'''
|-
|[[File:Combat Infantry Badge.svg|125px]]
|[[Combat Infantryman Badge]]
|-
|[[File:Expert Infantry Badge.svg|125px]]
|[[Expert Infantryman Badge]]
|-
|[[File:Master Parachutist badge (United States).svg|80px]]
|[[Parachutist Badge (United States)|Master Parachutist Badge]]
|-
|[[File:USAF - Occupational Badge - High Altitude Low Opening.svg|80px]]
|[[Military Free Fall Parachutist Badge]]
|-
|[[File:SpecialForcesTabMetal.jpg|80px]]
|[[Special Forces Tab]]
|-
|[[File:Ranger Tab.svg|80px]]
|[[Ranger Tab]]
|-
|[[File:US Army Special Operations Command SSI.svg|80px]]
|[[United States Army Special Operations Command]] [[Combat Service Identification Badge]]
|-
|[[File:Joint Chiefs of Staff seal.svg|80px]]
|[[Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge]]
|-
|[[File:United States Army Staff Identification Badge.png|80px]]
|[[Army Staff Identification Badge]]
|-
|[[File:SpecialForces Badge.svg|60px]]
|[[Special Forces (United States Army)|Special Forces]] [[Distinctive Unit Insignia]]
|-
|
|Royal Thai Airborne badge (Golden wings with red backing)
|}
|}

<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.militarytimes.com/citations-medals-awards/recipient.php?recipientid=100383Military|title=Times Hall of Valor|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.defense.gov/|title=U.S. Department of Defense|website=U.S. Department of Defense}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://archive.gg.ca/media/doc.asp?lang=e&DocID=4980|title=General Peter J. Schoomaker Receives Meritorious Service Cross (Military Division)|website=archive.gg.ca}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Project Manager Battle Command]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Sources==
* {{cite book| chapter-url = http://www.history.army.mil/books/cg%26csa/Schoomaker.htm| chapter = Peter Jan Schoomaker| title = Commanding Generals & Chiefs of Staff 1775–2005| first = William Gardner| last = Bell| year = 2005| location = Washington, D.C.| publisher = [[United States Army Center of Military History]]| access-date = November 2, 2007| archive-date = 12 December 2007| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071212202058/http://www.history.army.mil/books/cg%26csa/Schoomaker.htm| url-status = dead}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Peter Schoomaker}}
* {{cite web|url= http://armedservices.house.gov/schedules/6-27-06ArmyStatement.pdf|title= On the Army's Reset Strategy and Plan for Funding Reset Requirements|date= June 27, 2006|url-status= dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20060726203413/http://armedservices.house.gov/schedules/6-27-06ArmyStatement.pdf|archive-date= July 26, 2006|df= mdy-all}} An assessment of Army preparedness in terms of manpower, equipment, and funding. Delivered before the [[House Armed Services Committee|House Committee on the Armed Services]].
* {{cite web|url=http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1053555,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050426040253/http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1053555,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 26, 2005|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|access-date=December 13, 2006}}
*{{C-SPAN|1006953}}
{{S-start}}
{{S-mil}}
{{Succession box
|after = [[George W. Casey, Jr.]]
|title = [[Chief of Staff of the United States Army]]
|before = [[Eric K. Shinseki]]
|years=2003–2007}}
{{S-end}}
{{US Army Chiefs of Staff}}
{{Portalbar|Biography}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Schoomaker, Peter}}
[[Category:1946 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Ingham County, Michigan]]
[[Category:American people of Dutch descent]]
[[Category:People from East Lansing, Michigan]]
[[Category:Wyoming Cowboys football players]]
[[Category:University of Wyoming alumni]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Michigan]]
[[Category:United States Army Rangers]]
[[Category:Members of the United States Army Special Forces]]
[[Category:Central Michigan University alumni]]
[[Category:United States Army Command and General Staff College alumni]]
[[Category:National War College alumni]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Meritorious Service Medal (United States)]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Legion of Merit]]
[[Category:United States Army generals]]
[[Category:Delta Force]]
[[Category:Joint Chiefs of Staff]]
[[Category:Chiefs of Staff of the United States Army]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Defense Superior Service Medal]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Distinguished Service Medal (US Army)]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Defense Distinguished Service Medal]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Humanitarian Service Medal]]
[[Category:East Lansing High School alumni]]

Lorenzo Homar

2025-10-01T23:46:58Z

2603:8000:D400:C2:5872:3E63:B66A:EC48: /* Military awards and recognitions */

{{Short description|Puerto Rican graphic artist (1913–2004)}}
{{Infobox artist
| name = Lorenzo Homar
| image = Homar Lorenzo.JPG
| image_size =
| caption = '''Lorenzo Homar''' Homar designed the logo of the "Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña " ([[Institute of Puerto Rican Culture]]) known as the ICP, and he also established the Institute's Graphic Arts Workshop.
| birth_name =
| birth_date = September 10, 1913
| birth_place = [[San Juan, Puerto Rico]]
| death_date = February 16, 2004
| death_place = San Juan, Puerto Rico
| nationality = [[Puerto Rico|Puerto Rican]]
| known_for = graphic artist
| training = [[George Bridgman]]
| movement = [[Graphic artist]]
| notable_works =
| patrons =
| awards = Puerto Rican Institute of Culture's National Medal of Honor
}}

'''Lorenzo Homar Gelabert''' (September 10, 1913 – February 16, 2004) was a Puerto Rican printmaker, painter, and calligrapher whose artwork stretches to three main workshops: {{lang|es|Centro de Arte Puertorriqueño}} (CPA), [[Puerto Rican Division of Community Education|DIVEDCO]] ({{lang|es|División de Educación a la Comunidad}}), and the {{lang|es|Taller de Artes Gráficas}} of the {{lang|es|Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña}} (ICP). Homar was also the designer of the logo of the {{lang|es|Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña}} ([[Institute of Puerto Rican Culture]]).

==Early years==
Lorenzo Homar was born in 1913 in [[Barrio]] [[Puerta de Tierra]] in [[San Juan, Puerto Rico]]. His father, Lorenzo Homar Sr., was a film promoter and his mother, Margarita Gelabert, a pianist. Although he attended grammar school in San Juan, in 1928 due to financial difficulties, his family is forced to move to [[New York City]]. Because of the financial situation of his family, Homar did not finish his high school education and went to work in a textile factory. In 1931, he attended New York's [[Art Students League]] where he learned the art of drawing under the guidance of [[George Bridgman]].<ref name="FA">{{cite web|url=http://www.aiga.org/design-journeys-lorenzo-homar/|title=Lorenzo Homar Biography|first=Serafin|last=Méndez|publisher=[[AIGA]]}}</ref><ref name="BLO">{{Cite web|url=http://www.puertadetierra.info/figuras/gente/omar/omar.htm|title=Biografía de Lorenzo Homar-Obras|website=www.puertadetierra.info|accessdate=28 November 2023}}</ref><ref name="MdM">{{Cite web|url=https://www.galenusrevista.com/Lorenzo-Homar-maestro-de-maestros.html|title=Lorenzo Homar, maestro de maestros de las artes gráficas|first=MAPPING CONTROL géolocalisation de véhicules particuliers et|last=entreprises|website=Revista Galenus|accessdate=28 November 2023}}</ref><ref name="PU">[http://pudl.princeton.edu/collections/pudl0033 Princeton University]</ref>

Homar joined the [[Cartier SA|House of Cartier]] in 1936 in New York as an apprentice designer of jewelry. During this period of his life he studied engraving, drawing and history of design. Furthermore, the income from his position at Cartier allowed Homar to take night classes in painting, design and typography at [[Pratt Institute]].<ref name="FA"/><ref name="BLO"/><ref name="MdM"/><ref name="PU"/>

==World War II==
When the United States entered World War II, Homar joined the [[United States Army|Army]]. He participated in the Pacific Campaign and was wounded in the [[Philippines]] for which he received the [[Purple Heart Medal]]. Homar then served in an Army Intelligence Unit where he learned cartography while working for the Second Amphibious Combat Engineers Brigade. He also published military sketches in numerous American journals. When he returned from the war, he enrolled in the School of the [[Brooklyn Museum of Art]] in 1946. While there, he was able to meet and learn from such artists as [[Ben Shahn]], [[Rufino Tamayo]] and Gabor Peterdi.<ref name="FA"/><ref name="BLO"/><ref name="MdM"/><ref name="PU"/>

==Early Career in Puerto Rico==
Homar returned to Puerto Rico in 1950, where together with other artists, such as [[Rafael Tufiño]], [[Felix Rodriguez Baez]], [[Julio Rosado del Valle]] and [[René Marqués]], he co-founded the "[[Centro de Arte Puertorriqueño]]" (Puerto Rican Arts Center, or CAP). He was later named the director of the Graphics Studio of the Graphic Art Division of Puerto Rico's Department of Community Education (DivEdCo). This is when he created most of his works of art. Homar designed the logo of the "Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña " ([[Institute of Puerto Rican Culture]]) known as the ICP, and he also established the Institute's Graphic Arts Workshop. During the decade of the 1960s Homar began use the techniques of graphic printmaking, particularly in silkscreen. In 1975, he established his own printing studio, and among his many works are the posters he designed in 1979, for the [[Pan American Games|VIII Pan American Games]].<ref name="FA"/><ref name="BLO"/><ref name="MdM"/><ref name="PU"/>

His thirty year career in Puerto Rico was celebrated at the Poster House, New York City, in its 2025 exhibit ''Puerto Rico in Print: The Posters of Lorenzo Homar''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Puerto Rico in Print: The Posters of Lorenzo Homar |url=https://posterhouse.org/exhibition/puerto-rico-in-print-the-posters-of-lorenzo-homar/ |access-date=2025-09-20 |website=The Poster House}}</ref>

==Honors and recognitions==
Homar's works were exhibited in the [[Ponce Museum of Art]] in 1979. The [[Metropolitan Museum of Art]] purchased some of his works.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/762067|title=Lorenzo Homar | 'Plenas'|website=The Metropolitan Museum of Art|accessdate=28 November 2023}}</ref> The [[University of Puerto Rico]] proclaimed him a Doctorate "Honoris Causa" and the Puerto Rican Institute of Culture presented him with the National Medal of Honor in 2003.<ref name="FA"/><ref name="BLO"/><ref name="MdM"/><ref name="PU"/>

==Military awards and recognitions==
Among Homar's military decorations and medals were the following:<ref>"Mente, Mirada, Mano: Visiones y Revisiones de La Obra de Lorenzo Homar"; by Efraín Barradas; Publisher: Ediciones Huracan; {{ISBN|978-1932913187}}</ref>
*[[File:Purple Heart ribbon.svg|60px]]  [[Purple Heart]]
*[[File:Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal ribbon.svg|60px]]  [[Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal]] with two Bronze Service Stars
*[[File:World War II Victory Medal ribbon.svg|60px]]  [[World War II Victory Medal]]
*[[File:Phliber rib.svg|60px]]  [[Philippine Liberation Medal]]

==Later years==
On February 16, 2004, Lorenzo Homar died in Barrio Puerta de Tierra in San Juan, Puerto Rico.<ref name="FA"/>

==See also==
{{Portal|Puerto Rico}}
*[[List of Puerto Ricans]]
{{Clear}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
*"España inmortal: Lorenzo Homar's Prints for Cultural Institutions in Puerto Rico"; A Journal of Caribbean Arts and Letters; Author: Michael A. Brown; Volume=v.1; Number=n.2 Spring-Summer 2001; pages=155–159.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://archive.nyu.edu/handle/2451/62241|title=Calabash: A Journal of Caribbean Arts and Letters : Faculty Digital Archive : NYU Libraries|website=archive.nyu.edu|accessdate=28 November 2023}}</ref>
*"Puerto Rico: Arte e Identidad"; Author: Teresa Tio; chapter=El Cartel: Arma de resistencia cultural; Publisher=La Editorial, UPR; {{ISBN|9780847702237}}.
*"Mente, Mirada, Mano: Visiones y Revisiones de La Obra de Lorenzo Homar"; by Efraín Barradas; Publisher: Ediciones Huracan; {{ISBN|978-1932913187}}

==External links==
*{{cite web|url=http://pudl.princeton.edu/collections/pudl0033|title=Lorenzo Homar collection, 1937-1999|website=Princeton University Digital Library}}
*{{cite web|url=http://www.puertoricanposters.com/artists/2|title=Poster 130, Lorenzo Homar|website=Puerto Rico 1952-85, In Posters|editor-first=Roberto|editor-last=Rodondo}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Homar, Lorenzo}}
[[Category:1913 births]]
[[Category:2004 deaths]]
[[Category:Puerto Rican painters]]
[[Category:Puerto Rican Army personnel]]
[[Category:United States Army personnel of World War II]]
[[Category:United States Army soldiers]]
[[Category:Artists from San Juan, Puerto Rico]]
[[Category:20th-century American painters]]
[[Category:American male painters]]
[[Category:20th-century American male artists]]

Gordon Blake

2025-10-01T21:40:33Z

2603:8000:D400:C2:5872:3E63:B66A:EC48: /* Decorations */

{{short description|United States general}}
{{Infobox military person
|name= Gordon Blake
|image= Gordon Blake, official military photo.jpg
|image_size=
|alt=
|caption= Gordon Aylesworth Blake
|nickname=
|birth_date= {{birth date|1910|07|22}}
|birth_place= [[Charles City, Iowa]]
|death_date= {{death date and age|1997|09|01|1910|07|22}}
|death_place=
|placeofburial=
|allegiance= United States
|branch= [[United States Air Force]]
|serviceyears= 1931–1965
|rank= [[Lieutenant general (United States)|Lieutenant general]]
|servicenumber=
|unit=
|commands= [[National Security Agency]] [[Continental Air Command]] [[United States Air Force Security Service]]
|battles= [[World War II]]
|awards= [[Air Force Distinguished Service Medal]] (2) [[Silver Star]] [[Legion of Merit]] (2) [[Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)|Distinguished Flying Cross]] (2) [[Air Medal]] (2)
|relations=
|laterwork=
}}
'''Gordon Aylesworth Blake''' (July 22, 1910 – September 1, 1997) was a [[Lieutenant general (United States)|lieutenant general]] in the [[United States Air Force]] who served as director of the [[National Security Agency]] from 1962 to 1965.

==Early life and training==
Gordon Aylesworth Blake was born in [[Charles City, Iowa]], on July 22, 1910,<ref name=afhrastudy91pdf134>{{cite web |url=https://www.afhra.af.mil/Portals/16/documents/Studies/51-100/AFD-090601-134.pdf |title=Biographical Data on Air Force General Officers, 1917-1952, Volume 1 – A thru L |year=1953 |last=Fogerty |first=Robert P. |pages=172–174 |publisher=[[Air Force Historical Research Agency]] |id= USAF historical studies: no. 91 |access-date=November 9, 2021 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210831192543/https://www.afhra.af.mil/Portals/16/documents/Studies/51-100/AFD-090601-134.pdf |archive-date=August 31, 2021}}</ref> the son of George and Cecelia Blake. He graduated from high school in Charles City and was appointed to the [[United States Military Academy]] by the late [[Gilbert N. Haugen]] in 1927, graduating on June 11, 1931. He was commissioned a [[second lieutenant#United States|second lieutenant]] in the Coast Artillery Corps and detailed as a student officer to pilot training.

In October 1932, Blake completed Primary and Advanced Flying Schools. He was transferred to the Air Corps on January 25, 1933, and was assigned to a pursuit squadron at [[Barksdale Field]], [[Louisiana]]. Entering the Signal School at [[Fort Monmouth]], [[New Jersey]], in July 1934, he completed the Communications Officers' Course the following June and was assigned as communications instructor at the Air Corps Technical School, at Chanute Field, Illinois.

==World War II==
Going to [[Hawaii]] in February 1939, Blake was communications officer of the 18th Composite Wing. During September 1941, he acted as communications officer on the first land-based aircraft flight from Hawaii to the Philippines. This flight was made in [[B-17 bomber]]s sent to the Philippines as reinforcements and flew a pioneer route – [[Midway Atoll|Midway Island]]; [[Wake Island]]; Port Moresby, New Guinea; [[Darwin, Australia]]; Clark Field, Philippine Islands. All members of the flight were awarded the [[Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)|Distinguished Flying Cross]].

On December 7, 1941, Blake was base operations officer (in the rank of major) at Hickam Field during the [[Attack on Pearl Harbor|Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor]] and was awarded the [[Silver Star]] for gallantry in action that day. He became operations officer, Seventh Air Force Base Command, was promoted to [[Lieutenant colonel (United States)|lieutenant colonel]], and spent the first months of [[World War II]] supervising operation of the airplane ferry route to Australia via [[Christmas Island]] – [[Canton Island]] – [[Fiji]] – [[New Caledonia]].

In October 1942, Blake shifted back to communications work and commanded Army Airways Communications System in the Pacific for the rest of World War II, with the exception of the period October 1943 to January 1944, when on temporary duty in [[Alaska]], he established the Air Communications Office for Alaska. He was promoted to [[Colonel (United States)|colonel]] in November 1942. On August 28, 1945, he accompanied a special 150-man task force into Japan to prepare for airborne occupation troop landings on August 30.

==Post-war==
For his work in World War II, Blake was awarded the [[Legion of Merit]] by Admiral [[Chester W. Nimitz]], plus an [[oak leaf cluster]] to the Legion of Merit by the [[United States Department of War|War Department]], the [[Air Medal]] with oak leaf cluster, and [[battle star]]s for participation in the following campaigns: Central Pacific, Eastern Mandates, New Guinea, North Solomons, Guadalcanal, Papua and South Philippines, Luzon and Western Pacific. He returned from overseas in November 1945, and in January 1946, was appointed deputy commander of the Airways and Air Communications Service at [[Langley Field]], [[Virginia]].

Entering the [[Air War College]] at [[Maxwell Air Force Base]], [[Alabama]], in August 1947, Blake graduated the following June and went to research and development work at [[Wright-Patterson Air Force Base]], [[Ohio]]. Between 1948 and 1951, he was with the Electronics Subdivision of the Engineering Division and served as chief of the Armament Laboratory. In the summer of 1951, he was placed in charge of 12 development laboratories and promoted to [[Brigadier general (United States)|brigadier general]]. His final assignment at Wright Field was as vice-commander from June 1952 to January 1953.

Transferred to Air Force Headquarters in January 1953, Blake was appointed deputy director of communications in the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, becoming director of communications the following month. Many changes to the United States Air Force system for global communications and navigation, including pioneer operational circuits using [[tropospheric scatter]] communications for the first time, were carried out during his tour as director of communications.

===Washington and other moves===
Blake was named assistant deputy chief of staff for operations on June 2, 1956. In this capacity he served on the Permanent Joint Board for Defense, Canada — US, under which many defense projects such as the Dewline radar network were planned between the two countries. During the latter part of his Washington assignment, he was given the aeronautical rating of command pilot and was promoted to [[Major general (United States)|major general]], the highest permanent rank in the regular service.

Blake left Washington on January 4, 1957, to become commander of the [[United States Air Force Security Service]], a major component of the United States Air Force with its headquarters in [[San Antonio]], Texas. He was awarded the [[Air Force Distinguished Service Medal]] for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service in this command.

On September 1, 1959, Blake was assigned as vice-commander-in-chief and [[Chief of staff (military)|chief of staff]], [[Pacific Air Forces]], the air arm of the joint Pacific Command with its headquarters in [[Hawaii]].

Blake came to Headquarters [[Continental Air Command]] in July 1961 as commander-designate. He assumed command of Continental Air Command on September 30, 1961, and became a [[Lieutenant general (United States)|lieutenant general]] on October 1, 1961. Blake assumed the position of director, [[National Security Agency]], at [[Fort George G. Meade]], [[Maryland]], July 1, 1962, which he held until his retirement in 1965.

The US Air Force Aircraft Save Award is named after him. It is awarded for any action taken by an air traffic controller or airfield manager that results in the safe recovery of an imperiled airborne aircraft or help given to an endangered aircraft on the ground.

==Decorations==
{| style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
|colspan="4"|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=COMMAND PILOT WINGS.png|width=256|alt=}}
|-
|colspan="4"|{{Ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|ribbon=Air Force Distinguished Service ribbon.svg|width=106|alt=}} {{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Silver Star Medal ribbon.svg|width=106|alt=}}
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|ribbon=Legion of Merit ribbon.svg|width=106|alt=}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Distinguished Flying Cross ribbon.svg|width=106|alt=}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|ribbon=Air Medal ribbon.svg|width=106|alt=}}
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Army Commendation Medal ribbon.svg|width=106|alt=}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=1|type=service-star|ribbon=American Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106|alt=}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=American Campaign Medal ribbon.svg|width=106|alt=}}
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=4|type=service-star|ribbon=Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal ribbon.svg|width=106|alt=}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=World War II Victory Medal ribbon.svg|width=106|alt=}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|ribbon=National Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106|alt=}}
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=6|type=oak|ribbon=Air Force Longevity Service ribbon.svg|width=106|alt=}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=2|type=service-star|ribbon=Phliber rib.svg|width=106|alt=}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=PHL Independence Medal ribbon.png|width=106|alt=}}
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
|-
|colspan="17"|[[U.S. Air Force aeronautical rating|USAF Command Pilot wings]]
|-
!1st Row
|colspan="7"|[[Air Force Distinguished Service Medal]] with [[Oak Leaf Cluster]]
|colspan="7"|[[Silver Star]]
|-
!2nd Row
|colspan="4"|[[Legion of Merit]] with [[Oak Leaf Cluster]]
|colspan="4"|[[Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)|Distinguished Flying Cross]]
|colspan="4"|[[Air Medal]] with [[Oak Leaf Cluster]]
|-
!3rd Row
|colspan="4"|[[Commendation Medal|Army Commendation Medal]]
|colspan="4"|[[American Defense Service Medal]] with Base Clasp
|colspan="4"|[[American Campaign Medal]]
|-
!4th Row
|colspan="4"|[[Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal]] with four service star
|colspan="4"|[[World War II Victory Medal (United States)|World War II Victory Medal]]
|colspan="4"|[[National Defense Service Medal]] with Oak Leaf Cluster
|-
!5th Row
|colspan="4"|[[Air Force Longevity Service Award]] with seven Oak Leaf Clusters
|colspan="4"|[[Philippine Liberation Medal]] with two stars
|colspan="4"|[[Philippine Independence Medal]]
|-
|}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://archive.today/20121212223811/http://www.af.mil/information/bios/bio.asp?bioID=4706 Air Force Link biography]

{{S-start}}
{{S-gov}}
{{Succession box|title=[[Director of the National Security Agency]] |before=[[Laurence Hugh Frost]]|after=[[Marshall S. Carter]] |years=1962–1965}}
{{S-end}}

{{DIRNSA}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Blake, Gordon A.}}
[[Category:1910 births]]
[[Category:1997 deaths]]
[[Category:Directors of the National Security Agency]]
[[Category:People from Charles City, Iowa]]
[[Category:United States Air Force generals]]
[[Category:United States Military Academy alumni]]
[[Category:United States Army personnel of World War II]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Silver Star]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Legion of Merit]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Air Medal]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Iowa]]