Walter E . Boomer General Walter E . Boomer ( born 22 September 1938 ) is a retired former four - star General and Assistant Commandant of the United States Marine Corps and business executive . Boomer led all Marines in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm during the Gulf War . He later served as the Chairman and CEO of Rogers Corporation , and retired in 2004 . He is the current lead director of Baxter International . Boomer is a 1960 graduate of Duke University ; he later earned a master ' s degree from American University . Biography . Walter Boomer was born on 22 September 1938 in Rich Square , North Carolina . In 1956 , He graduated from Randolph - Macon Academy in Front Royal , Virginia . He earned a B . A . degree from Duke University in 1960 , and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the U . S . Marine Corps . He earned a Master of Science degree in Technology of Management from American University , Washington , D . C . in 1973 . Marine Corps service . After completing The Basic School , Quantico , Virginia in January 1961 , his first assignments were with the 1st Battalion , 8th Marines and the 2nd Battalion , 2nd Marines , 2nd Marine Division , Camp Lejeune , where he was platoon commander , weapons platoon commander and battalion training officer , respectively , from 1961 to 1964 . He was promoted to first lieutenant in December 1961 , and to captain in April 1965 . Boomer saw combat action from 1966 to 1967 in the Republic of Vietnam as the Commanding Officer , Company H , 2nd Battalion , 4th Marines . During this combat tour , he was awarded the Silver Star Medal for valor . Returning to the States , he attended the Amphibious Warfare School at Quantico . Upon completion of school , he was promoted to major in May 1968 , and was transferred to Headquarters Marine Corps , Washington , D . C . , for duty as the Administrative Assistant and Aide - de - Camp to the Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans and Programs . Following this assignment , he attended the Armed Forces Staff College in Norfolk , Virginia . In 1971 , Boomer attended the Short Advisors Course at Fort Bragg , North Carolina , in preparation for advisor duty with the South Vietnamese Marines . In August of that year , he returned to Vietnam as an advisor to a South Vietnamese Marine Infantry Battalion . While serving this tour of duty , he was involved in the Easter Offensive , North Vietnam ' s largest assault on the South . Transferred back to the States in September 1972 , he attended American University , receiving his M . S . degree in December 1973 . The following month , he began a three - year tour as a management instructor at the U . S . Naval Academy , Annapolis , Maryland . During the last year of his tour , he was the Chairman of the Department of Management . He was promoted to lieutenant colonel in September 1976 . From July 1977 to June 1980 , Boomer was stationed in Hawaii , where he served as Executive Officer , 3rd Marines , 1st Marine Brigade , and then as Commanding Officer , 2nd Battalion , 3rd Marines . Returning to the mainland in July 1980 , he attended the Naval War College , Newport , Rhode Island , graduating with distinction in June 1981 . He then assumed the duties as the Deputy Director of the Fourth Marine Corps District , Philadelphia . He was promoted to colonel on 1 November 1981 , and became the Director of the Fourth Marine Corps District on 17 June 1983 . During February 1985 , Colonel Boomer returned to Quantico to assume command of the Marine Security Guard Battalion . While serving in this capacity , he was selected in April 1986 for promotion to brigadier general . He was advanced to that grade on 2 June 1986 and assigned duty as the Director of Public Affairs , Headquarters Marine Corps on 7 June 1986 . He served in this capacity until 27 May 1988 , when he was assigned duty as the Commanding General , 4th Marine Division ( Reinforced ) , FMF , New Orleans . On 14 March 1989 , he was advanced to major general ; then , promoted to lieutenant general on 8 August 1990 . On 15 August 1990 , General Boomer deployed to Saudi Arabia , where he served as the Commanding General , U . S . Marine Forces Central Command and I Marine Expeditionary Force during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm . On 22 April 1991 , he returned to Camp Pendleton and assumed the duties of Commanding General , I Marine Expeditionary Force / Commanding General , Marine Corps Base . He served in this capacity until 6 September 1991 . General Boomer reported to Quantico , Virginia , on 27 September 1991 , where he assumed duty as the Commanding General , Marine Corps Combat Development Command . He was promoted to general on 1 September 1992 , and assumed his last duty assignment as Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps . General Walter E . Boomer retired from the Marine Corps 1 September 1994 . Awards and honors . General Boomer ' s medals and decorations include : Post - Marine Corps career . After retiring from the Marine Corps , General Boomer served as Executive Vice President of McDermott International ( 1994 – 1996 ) . He joined Rogers Corporation – an international specialty materials manufacturing company — in 1997 as President and CEO . From 2002 to 2004 , Boomer was Chairman of the Board of Rogers Corporation . Boomer current serves on the Board of Directors of Rogers Corporation , Cytyc Corporation , and Baxter International .