Tom Perkins commands the 3rd Battalion of the 19th Regiment of the Texas State Guard, which is headquartered here in Tyler.

He was commissioned as an infantry officer upon graduation from the United States Military Academy at West Point. While in the Army, he earned the Ranger Tab, Airborne and Air Assault Wings, the Expert Infantryman’s Badge and Master Fitness Certification. Upon leaving the military, he earned a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Texas at Austin. After working for Fortune 500 companies, he moved to Tyler to lead an Edward Jones office.

He serves his community as president of the Tyler-Smith County Texas Exes, Secretary of the West Point Society of the Piney Woods, and board member for Champions for Children, South Tyler Rotary, and Heart of Tyler. He is a graduate and active committee member in Leadership Tyler, and Grace Community Church.

Captain Perkins has been married for 23 years to his wife, Sandy, who is the office manager at Cosmetic and Plastic Surgery Center of Tyler. They have two children. Chantz is training to become a firefighter, and Ally is scheduled to attend UT Tyler in the fall.