Leon E Salomon

General Leon E. Salomon was born in Chicago, Illinois on 27 April 1936. On completion of Infantry Officer Candidate School he was commissioned a second lieutenant in 1959. General Salomon has Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry and biology from the University of Florida and a Master of Science degree in management logistics from the U.S. Air Force Institute of Technology. His military education includes the Chemical Officer Advanced Course, the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces.

Following three years as an Infantry Officer, General Salomon transferred to the Chemical Corps in 1962. Following assignments as a Chemical School instructor and responsibility for an inventory control point in Orleans, France, he became involved in his first assignment with leveraging technology as Chief of the Automated Logistics Tests for the Division Logistics Systems at Fort Hood, Texas. After graduation from the Command and General Staff College (1969), a tour in Vietnam (1969–70), and graduate studies in logistics management at the Air Force Institute of Technology, he was again put to work developing automation systems to support logistics.

In 1974 he transferred to the Ordnance Corps and became Commander of the 19th Maintenance Battalion, 3rd Support Command, in Geisen, Germany. He later became Assistant Chief of Staff for Logistics for the 3rd Armored Division, in Frankfurt.

Following graduation from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces in 1978, he was assigned to the Office of the Army Chief of Staff as the Chief of the Commercial Industrial Type Activity Team.

In 1980 he became the Director of Combat Services Support Systems. He became involved in the drafting of the new proponency regulation that resulted in the recreation of the branch chief concept for Combat Service Support Branches. The end result was the reestablishment of the position of Chief of Ordnance and the rebirth of the Ordnance Corps under the Army Regimental Concept.

He next went on to command the Division Support Command for the 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Hood, Texas. Following his tour there, he became the Deputy Commanding General, 21st Support Command, U.S. Army Europe and Seventh Army in Kaisersaluten, Germany.

Following his promotion to Brigadier General in 1986, he was named the 23rd Chief of Ordnance and Commandant of the U.S. Army Ordnance Center and School at Aberdeen Proving Ground. During his two-year tenure, he worked to improve the training, doctrine, and evaluation programs at the Ordnance School. He encouraged faculty and staff to take a teacher-mentor-counselor approach in the training process, to stress proficiency at all levels, and to place more emphasis on 'hands-on' activity in the training process. he stressed improvements in competence for all officers, warrant officers, and enlisted personnel, and improved the quality and extent of career development guidance.

His next key assignments included Deputy Chief of Staff, U.S. Army Materiel Command (1988–89), Deputy Commanding General for Logistics U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command, Fort Monroe, Virginia, Deputy Commanding General for Combined Arms Support, U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command and Commanding General, U.S. Army Combined Arms Support Command and Fort Lee, Fort Lee, Virginia, and Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics, Department of the Army. His career culminated in his last assignment as Commanding General, U.S. Army Materiel Command, from 11 February 1994 to 27 March 1996.

General Salomon's awards and decorations include two Distinguished Service Medals, the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, three Meritorious Service Medals, three Air Medals, three Army Commendation Medals, the Expert Infantryman Badge, and the Army Staff Identification Badge. General Salomon retired from the Army in 1996.

Since retiring from the military, Salomon was elected to the GRC International Board of Directors. He also works as a logistics consultant, and is affiliated with Gary A. Dunbar, Inc. From 1996 to 1998 he served as Vice President for Procurement and Logistics for Rubbermaid, and Senior Vice President for Procurement at Rubbermaid from 1998 to 1999. He is on the Board of Directors for Global Security Management, ATC Materials, Inc. and Eagle Systems and Services, Inc a wholly owned subsidiary of The Columbia Group.

He now lives in Gulfport, FL. With his wife Shirley, two sons Greg and Jeff Salomon, daughter Kristen Salomon.