Peter Pace

Peter Pace
Pace in 2006
Born	(1945-11-05) November 5, 1945 (age 71) Brooklyn, New York City, New York, U.S.
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Marine Corps
Years of service	1967–2007
Rank	General
Commands held	Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff U.S. Southern Command Marine Forces Atlantic 2nd Battalion 1st Marines
Battles/wars	Vietnam War Operation Restore Hope
Awards	Defense Distinguished Service Medal (4) Navy Distinguished Service Medal Army Distinguished Service Medal Air Force Distinguished Service Medal Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal Defense Superior Service Medal Legion of Merit Bronze Star with "Valor V" Defense Meritorious Service Medal Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun (Japan) Meritorious Service Cross (Canada) Grand Cross of the Order of Naval Merit Admiral Padilla (Colombia)

Peter Pace (born November 5, 1945) is a former United States Marine Corps general who served as the 16th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Pace was the first Marine officer appointed as chairman, and the first Marine officer to be appointed to three different four-star assignments; the others as the 6th Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from October 1, 2001, to August 12, 2005, and as Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Southern Command from September 8, 2000, to September 30, 2001. Appointed Chairman by President George W. Bush, Pace succeeded U.S. Air Force General Richard Myers on September 30, 2005.

Secretary of Defense Robert Gates announced on June 8, 2007, that he would not advise the President to renominate Pace for a second term. Pace retired from the Marine Corps and stepped down as Chairman on October 1, 2007. He was replaced by Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Michael Mullen.

Pace was born on November 5, 1945, in New York City's Brooklyn to Italian American parents (from Noci) and raised in Teaneck, New Jersey, graduating from Teaneck High School in 1963. He received his commission in June 1967, following graduation from the United States Naval Academy. He also holds a Master of Business Administration degree from George Washington University. Pace currently resides in McLean, Virginia; he was married to Lynne Pace, whom he met as a midshipman, but later died in an accident and has a son, also named Peter. Pace is a Roman Catholic.