Peter Schoomaker

Peter Jan Schoomaker (born 12 February 1946) is a retired four-star general of the United States Army who served as the 35th Chief of Staff of the United States Army from August 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. 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). His brother, Lieutenant General Eric Schoomaker, was the 42nd Surgeon General of the United States Army.