The Honorable Rick Perales
State Representative Rick Perales is serving his fourth term in the Ohio House. He serves the 73rd House District, which includes the western portion of Greene County, including Wright Patterson Air Force Base.
Representative Perales retired from the United States Air Force in 1997, his military career culminating as Commander of the 788th Civil Engineer Squadron at Wright Patterson Air Force Base. As the sole member of the General Assembly inducted into the Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame, Representative Perales has been awarded numerous military awards and honors including three meritorious service medals. He served as the Mayor of the City of Beavercreek from 2002-2003, and then served as Greene County Commissioner for eight years. As Executive Director of Facilities at the University of Dayton, Representative Perales led the unprecedented campus expansion and revival from 1998-2013.
Perales has been active in numerous boards in his community including St. Joseph Children’s Treatment Center, Greene County Habitat for Humanity, and the Victoria Theater. He served as Committee Chair supporting the United Way Campaign, as well as remaining active in the Big Brothers/Big Sisters program. He was named one of the Dayton region’s Top 25 Most Influential People of the Decade in 2009 and the AMVET 2014 Legislator of the Year. He was also given the Wick Wright Award for outstanding support to the National Aviation Heritage Alliance in 2015, was named a 2016 Veteran of Influence by the Dayton Business Journal, and again honored as Legislator of the Year by the American Legion Department of Ohio. In February 2019, Representative Perales was awarded the inaugural Legislator of the Year by the Ohio Aviation Association for outstanding support of Ohio’s Aviation and Aerospace industry.
Representative Perales earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Building Construction from Auburn University, and a Master of Science degree in International Relations from Troy State University.
Perales and his wife, Becka, reside in Beavercreek. They have four children and seven grandchildren.