General Leon J. LaPorte
General Leon J. LaPorte
General Leon J. LaPorte hails from Providence, Rhode Island. A graduate from
the University of Rhode Island in 1968, he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant
of Armor. He served as a Platoon Leader in 3d Battalion, 64th Armor in Schweinfurt,
Germany. From 1969 to 1970, he also served as the S3 Air, 1st Brigade, 3d Infantry
Division. In 1971, he served as a Platoon Commander and Company Executive Officer
in the 238th Aerial Weapons Company in the Republic of Vietnam. He served as
a G3 Operations Officer in the 4th Infantry Division until 1973, when he assumed
command of Bravo Company, 6th Battalion, 32d Armor, Fort Carson, Colorado.
Following completion of the Armor Officer Advanced Course in 1975, General
LaPorte received his Master’s Degree in Administration from the University
of California at Irvine. From 1977 to 1980, he served as Assistant Professor
of Leadership at the United States Military Academy. Following Command and General
Staff College, he was assigned as Executive Officer, 2d Squadron, 9th Cavalry,
then as S3, 2d Brigade, 24th Infantry Division. From 1984 to 1986, General LaPorte
served as the Armor Colonel’s Assignment Officer, Military Personnel Center,
Alexandria, Virginia. From 1986 to 1988, he commanded the 3d Battalion, 64th
Armor, 3d Infantry Division in Schweinfurt, Germany. Following the Army War
College, he served as the G3, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas, from June
1989 to September 1990. On 17 September 1990, General LaPorte was assigned as
the Chief of Staff of the 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas. He deployed
with the division to Southwest Asia and was Chief of Staff during Operations
DESERT SHIELD and DESERT STORM.
General LaPorte commanded the 3d Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, from October
1991 to May 1993. From May 1993 to April 1994, he served as Chief of Staff,
III Corps and Fort Hood. From April 1994 to July 1995, he served as the Commander,
National Training Center, Fort Irwin, California. General LaPorte returned to
Fort Hood in 1995 where he commanded the 1st Cavalry Division until July 1997.
He then served as Deputy Assistant Chief of Staff for Operations and Plans,
Headquarters, Department of the Army, Washington, DC. In August 1998 General
LaPorte took command of III Corps and Fort Hood, Texas, where he served until
August 2001. In September 2001, General LaPorte was assigned as the Deputy Commanding
General/Chief of Staff, US Army Forces Command. In May 2002 General LaPorte
assumed command of United Nations Command, ROK – US Combined Forces Command,
and United States Forces Korea, located in Seoul, Korea.
General LaPorte’s awards include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal,
Distinguished Service Medal (with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster)l, Legion of Merit (three
Oak Leaf Clusters), Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious
Service Medal (two Oak Leaf Clusters), Air Medal (with “V” Device),
Army Commendation Medal (with “V” Device and 1 Oak Leaf Cluster),
Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry (with Palm), Kuwait Liberation Medal, Army Aviator
Badge, Parachutist Badge, and Ranger Tab.
General LaPorte retired on 1 April 2006 after 38 years of active duty in the
U.S. Army. Currently, he serves as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of LaPorte
& Associates, LLC an International Business Development firm.
Education
University of Rhode Island - BS - Biology
University of California - MS – Administration
United States Army Command and General Staff College
United States Army War College
University of Rhode Island, Honorary Doctorate of Laws
University of Maryland, Honorary Doctorate, Public Service
Pai Chai University, Seoul, South Korea, Honorary Doctorate, Business Management
Distinguished Visiting Senior Research Fellow, Institute for Peace Studies,
Korea University
Current Board/Advisor Positions
Member, World Board of Governors
United Services Organization (USO)
Senior Advisor, Board of Advisors
McLane Advanced Technologies
Senior Advisor, Board of Advisors
Lee International Law Group
Senior Advisor, Board of Advisors
Doran Capital Partners
Senior Advisor
Poongsan Industries
Senior Advisor
Agility Logistics
Senior Mentor
Northrop Grumman