Pete Dawkins - Military Career

Military Career

After being commissioned from the academy and completing his tenure as a Rhodes Scholar, Dawkins finished Infantry School and Ranger School before being posted for duty in the 82nd Airborne Division. Furthermore, he received two Bronze Stars for Valor for his service in Vietnam, and held commands in the 7th Infantry Division and 101st Airborne. From 1971-1972, Dawkins, while a Lieutenant Colonel, was the commander of the 1st Battalion 23rd Infantry, 2nd Infantry Division, Camp Hovey Korea. In addition to being an instructor at the academy, he was a White House Fellow in the 1973-1974 class. During that time, he was chosen to work on a task force, charged with changing the US Army into an all-volunteer force. In the late-70's he was 3rd (War Eagle Brigade which included the 1/503, 2/503, and 3/187 Infantry Battalions) Brigade Commander of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) at Fort Campbell, KY with the rank of Colonel. After serving as the Brigade Commander he became the Chief of Staff for the 101st Airborne Division and was subsequently promoted to Brigadier General.

At the conclusion of his 24-year career in the Army, Dawkins retired with the rank of Brigadier General in 1983. Following his retirement from the Army, Dawkins took up a position as a partner in the Wall Street firm Lehman Brothers, later becoming vice-chairman of Bain and Company. In 1991, he moved on to become chairman and CEO of Primerica Financial Services, Inc.. Dawkins is currently a senior partner at Flintlock Capital Asset Management.