Rick Perales has served his community as an elected official for the past ten years; first, as the Mayor of the City Of Beavercreek, 2002-2003, then as a Beavercreek City Council Member in 2004, and since 2005, as a Greene County Commissioner. He is also employed at the University of Dayton as the University’s Campus Planning Director, responsible for strategic planning of campus facilities and infrastructure. Prior to this position, he served the University as the Executive Director of Facilities Management. In this capacity, Rick oversaw the design and construction, and operation and maintenance of the campus physical assets (building, roads, grounds, etc.). He has worked at the University of Dayton since 1998. Prior to working at The University of Dayton, Rick was the Division Manager for a Washington DC computer-engineering firm.

     Rick grew up in Tucson, Arizona. He obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Building Science Construction from Auburn University in 1982, and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Air Force that same year. As a Civil Engineer in the USAF, he spent 15 years in various positions dealing with comprehensive master planning of installations; programming, engineering and construction of facilities, as well as the operations, maintenance and repair of facilities on various Air Force Bases. His initial assignment was as a construction project manager for the Space Shuttle Program. Follow-on assignments included tours in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Germany, as well as various stateside bases. While stationed in Germany, in 1992, he earned his Masters Degree from Troy State University in International Relations. He retired from the Air Force in 1997 as the Commander of the 788th Civil Engineer Squadron at Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio with numerous awards and commendations.

     Throughout his seven years as Commissioner, Rick’s focus has been, and continues to be, economy/jobs, education, and infrastructure. Rick’s community involvement includes his recent appointment to Wright State University External Advisory Board for Mechanical and Materials Engineering Department, the Beavercreek’s Board of Zoning Appeals in 2001; as well as Board Membership and/or affiliation with the St. Joseph Children’s Treatment Center, Victoria Theatre, Greene County Habitat for Humanity, TCN (The Community Network), Red Cross, the United Way, and the Big Brothers and Sisters Organization. Ricks recent post-military awards and honors include Ohio Jaycee’s Outstanding Mayor in 2003, Dayton Business Journal’s 25 Most Influential People of the Decade in the Dayton Region, and most recently Ohio Veteran Hall Of Fame Inductee, Class of 2010.

      Rick and his wife Becka have four children. They reside in the City of Beavercreek, Ohio. He enjoys golf, reading, working out and time with his family.