Washington –
Lt.Gen. Leonard H. Perroots, U.S. Air Force who served as 8th Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency from October 1985 to December 1988, died January 29, 2017 after a short illness.
During his tenure as DIA Director, the agency focused on a shifting national security environment, including changes within the Soviet Union, the Iran-Iraq War and the threats of terrorism, narcotics trafficking, global volatility and low intensity conflict. Under Perroots’ leadership, DIA received its first Joint Meritorious Unit Award for intelligence support during the TWA and ACHILLE LAURO hijackings, the crisis in the Philippines, and support to military operations against Libya.
As DIA Director, Lt.Gen. Perroots worked with Dept. of Defense leadership to enhance the National Military Intelligence Center (NMIC) and collocate the NMIC with the Joint Chiefs of Staff National Military Command Center to better fuse operations and intelligence during crises at the national level. Following the Goldwater-Nichols Act designation of DIA as a "Combat Support Agency” in 1986, Lt.Gen. Perroots spearheaded the effort to improve DIA cooperation with the Unified and Specified Commands by developing a joint intelligence doctrine.
A Morgantown, West Virginia native, Perroots received a bachelor of science degree from West Virginia University in 1955 and a master of arts degree in international affairs from George Washington University in 1975. He also was a distinguished graduate of the National War College, Washington, D.C.
He entered active duty in May 1955 and served as an Air Force intelligence officer in the U.S. and overseas. Prior to his assignment as DIA Director, Lt.Gen. Perroots served as Assistant Chief of Staff for Intelligence at Headquarters, U.S. Air Force and Commander of the Air Force Intelligence Service in Washington DC. He was appointed the director of DIA October 1, 1985.
Funeral arrangements are pending.