Leon Benjamin Kromer (June 25, 1876 – September 6, 1966) was a United States Army officer and American football coach.

[1] Kromer graduated from West Point in February 1899 and began his service as a commissioned officer in the 10th Cavalry Regiment.

[3] The New York Times of 1930s noted that many contemporary U. S. Generals (Kromer, Malin Craig, Dennis E. Nolan, Paul Bunker) were connected by past football experience at West Point.

[6] While coaching the football team, Kromer also served in the Department of Tactics at West Point from October 1901 to January 1902.

According to his citation for the Distinguished Service Medal award, "As Assistant Chief of Staff of the 82d Division during the St. Mihiel offensive Colonel Kromer displayed military attainments of a high order in the planning of operations of great moment.

The future of cavalry was uncertain: it either remained the forward reconnaissance element of the Army, or had to develop into a completely new fighting force.

[15] He endorsed expansion of mechanized units at Fort Knox although shortage of funds ruled out any massive changes.

[16] Kromer was an open-minded man who did not perceive mechanization as a threat to horse cavalry: "rather, he tried to adapt to a change and give each a role.

After the war he headed industrial associations and served as labor relations advisor under presidents Kennedy, Johnson and Nixon.