Meet Rick Perales

Rick Perales is a retired United States Air Force Major, veteran advocate, and former Ohio elected official who now hosts the Pitbull 214 Podcast. Born in Selma, Alabama, he earned his B.S. in Building Construction from Auburn University and his M.S. in International Relations from Troy State University.

Commissioned into the Air Force in 1982, Rick served 15 years in roles spanning project management at the Space Transportation System in Los Angeles, Foreign Military Sales in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Chief of Engineering at Spangdahlem Air Force Base in Germany, and Commander of the 788th Civil Engineer Squadron at Wright-Patterson AFB. He retired at the rank of Major in 1997 and settled in Beavercreek, Ohio.

After the military, Rick spent 15 years as Executive Director of Facilities at the University of Dayton before entering public service. He served as Mayor of Beavercreek, Greene County Commissioner for three terms, and Ohio State Representative for four terms — chairing the Armed Services and Veterans Affairs Committee. He was inducted into the Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame in 2010, the sole member of the Ohio General Assembly to receive that honor.