Retired Gen. David Perkins, a former commander of Army Training and Doctrine Command, is the first distinguished chair of the Association of the U.S. Army’s new Center of Leadership, the association announced.

In this position, which becomes effective Feb. 1, Perkins will lead AUSA’s efforts to enhance its strategic communication across the Total Army and among AUSA’s 120 chapters and promote initiatives in keeping with AUSA’s charter as an educational and professional association.

He will also coach and advise the new Center of Leadership on assessment, research and publications related to leader development, character development and stewardship of the Army profession.

“I am honored to become a part of AUSA’s Center of Leadership,” Perkins said. “Leadership is always the crucial element of success in any organization. Working with such a well-led organization like AUSA, helping the best leader development organization in the world, the U.S. Army, is as good as it gets for anybody interested in leadership and making people and organizations better.”

Established in October, AUSA’s Center of Leadership was created to help educate, inspire and connect leaders of character and guide their efforts to lead effective, cohesive and honorable teams across the Army by delivering relevant and inspirational leader development programs. Its director is retired Col. Scott Halstead.

“We are thrilled to have retired Gen. Dave Perkins serve as the first chair of the AUSA Center of Leadership,” said retired Gen. Bob Brown, AUSA president and CEO. “Dave is one of the premier leadership experts in the world, and he consistently demonstrated his leadership prowess in the most challenging situations possible.”

A native of Keene, New Hampshire, Perkins retired from the Army in 2018 after 38 years of service. He is a 1980 graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York, and has advanced degrees in mechanical engineering, national security and strategic studies and military studies.

At Training and Doctrine Command, Perkins led the development of the Army’s Multi-Domain Operations concept, which has become the driver for readiness and modernization for the future battlefield, not only for the U.S. military, but for allies and partners around the world.

Perkins also commanded the Army Combined Arms Center, where he synchronized leader development, managed the Army’s training support and training development enterprises, and developed and integrated the doctrine that guides the Army around the world.

His other commands include the 4th Infantry Division at Fort Carson, Colorado, and the Joint Multinational Training Command in Germany, and he was deputy commanding general for strategic effects for Multi-National Force-Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

He received the Silver Star for his leadership in combat on April 7, 2003, when, as commander of the 3rd Infantry Division’s 2nd Brigade Combat Team, he led his forces “at breakneck speed across the Iraq desert from Kuwait in the ‘Thunder Run’ to liberate Baghdad,” according to his award citation.