John Leonard Hines (May 21, 1868-October 13, 1968) was an American soldier, who served as Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army from 1924 to 1926. He was born in White Sulphur Springs, WV. He graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point, in 1891, and was commissioned a second lieutenant of Infantry. His first assignment was to the 2nd Infantry Regiment, and he served with the regiment in Nebraska and Montana from 1891 to 1898.
Hines served in Cuba during the Spanish-American War and in the Philippines during the Philippine-American War. He was adjutant of the Mexican Punitive Expedition in 1916-17 under Gen. John J. Pershing.
During World War I, Hines commanded the 1st Brigade, 1st Division, from May to August 1918 and the 4th Division from August to October 1918. He received the Distinguished Service Cross, the second-highest U.S. Army decoration for valor, for "extraordinary heroism in action near Berzy-le-Sec, France, July 21, 1918." In October 1918, he took command of III Corps, leading it during the final engagements of the war and the occupation of Germany. In December 1922, he was assigned as Deputy Chief of Staff of the Army, and became Army Chief of Staff on September 14, 1924.