General Leon J. LaPorte assumed command of the United Nations Command, Republic of Korea/United States Combined Forces Command, and United States Forces Korea on May 1, 2002. Prior to that, he served as Deputy Commander, United States Army Forces Command.

General LaPorte hails from Providence, Rhode Island. A graduate from the University of Rhode Island in 1968, he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant of Armor. He served as a Platoon Leader and Motor Officer in Alpha Company, 3d Battalion, 64th Armor. From 1969 to 1970, he also served as the S3 Air, 1st Brigade, 3d Infantry Division. In 1971, he served as a Platoon Commander and Company Executive Officer in the 238th Aerial Weapons Company in the Republic of Vietnam. He served as a G3 Operations Officer in the 4th Infantry Division (Mechanized) until 1973, when he assumed command of Bravo Company, 6th Battalion, 32d Armor, Fort Carson, Colorado.

Following completion of the Armor Officer Advanced Course in 1975, General LaPorte received his Master's Degree in Administration from the University of California. From 1977 to 1980, he served as an instructor and Assistant Professor at the United States Military Academy. Following the Command and General Staff College, he was assigned as the Executive Officer, 2d Squadron, 9th Cavalry, 24th Infantry Division (Mechanized), Fort Stewart, Georgia. In 1983 he served as the S3, 2d Brigade, 24th Infantry Division (Mechanized). From 1984 to 1986, General LaPorte served as the Armor Colonel's Assignment Officer, Military Personnel Center, Alexandria, Virginia. From 1986 to 1988, he commanded the 3d Battalion, 64th Armor, 3d Infantry Division in Schweinfurt, Germany. Following the Army War College, he served as the G3, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas, from June 1989 to September 1990. On 17 September 1990, General LaPorte was assigned as the Chief of Staff of the 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas. In October 1990, he deployed with the division to Southwest Asia and was Chief of Staff during Operations DESERT SHIELD and DESERT STORM.

General LaPorte commanded the 3d (Greywolf) Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, from October 1991 to May 1993. From May 1993 to April 1994, he served as Chief of Staff, III Corps and Fort Hood. From April 1994 to July 1995, he served as the Commander, National Training Center, Fort Irwin, California. In 1995 General LaPorte returned to Fort Hood where he commanded the 1st Cavalry Division until July 1997. He then served as Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations and Plans, Headquarters, Department of the Army, Washington, DC. General LaPorte returned to Fort Hood again in August 1998 where he commanded III Corps and Fort Hood, Texas, until August 2001. General LaPorte assumed duties as Deputy Commanding General/Chief of Staff, US Army Forces Command, in September 2001.

General LaPorte's awards include the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit (three oak leaf clusters), Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (two oak leaf clusters), Air Medal ("V" device), Army Commendation Medal ("V" device), Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry (with Palm), Kuwait Liberation Medal, Army Aviator Badge, Parachutist Badge, and Ranger Tab.