General J.H. Bonford Peay III served as the 5th Commander in Chief (CinC), United States Central Command (CENTCOM) from August 5, 1994 through August 13, 1997.

As a 2-star general in 1989, Peay assumed command of the 101st Airborne Division (air Assault) and led the division through Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm in the Persian Gulf.