Rick Perales is a retired United States Air Force officer, veteran advocate, and former Ohio elected official who now hosts the Pitbull214podcast. Born in Selma, Alabama, he earned his B.S. in Building Construction from Auburn University and his M.S. in International Relations from Troy State University.

Commissioned into the Air Force in 1982, Rick served 15 years in roles including project management in Los Angeles, Foreign Military Sales in Saudi Arabia, Chief of Engineering at Spangdahlem Air Force Base in Germany, and Commander of the 788th Civil Engineer Squadron at Wright-Patterson AFB. He retired as a Major in 1997 and settled in Beavercreek, Ohio.

After the military, Rick worked at the University of Dayton before entering public service. He later served as Mayor of Beavercreek, Greene County Commissioner, and Ohio State Representative, chairing the Armed Services and Veterans Affairs Committee.