4th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade Commander
COL James F. Reckard III is a native of Fairchance, Pennsylvania. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and was commissioned through ROTC into the Chemical Corps. He was first assigned to the 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) at Ft. Drum, New York. As a Lieutenant, he served as a platoon leader in the 413th Chemical Company during Operation Desert Storm; as the Battalion Chemical Officer for the 3d Battalion 14th Infantry Regiment; and as a Platoon Leader and Executive Officer in the 59th Chemical Company during Operation Restore Hope in Mogadishu, Somalia. COL Reckard was then assigned to Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. He served in the 2d Brigade, 25th Infantry Division as the Brigade Chemical Officer during Operation Uphold Democracy in Port au Prince, Haiti, and as Commander of the 71st Chemical Company.
COL Reckard attended graduate school at The Ohio State University where he earned a Master of Science in Biochemistry. Following graduate school, he served as an Instructor at the United States Military Academy in the Department of Chemistry. He went on from West Point to attend the Command and General Staff College (CGSC) at Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas. Following graduation from CGSC, he was assigned to the 83d Chemical Battalion where he served as the Battalion S-3 and Executive Officer. He later served on the Army Staff, Deputy Chief of Staff G8, as a CBRN Staff Officer and as the Executive Officer to the Director of Force Development. COL Reckard commanded the 23d Chemical Battalion from July 2008 to July 2010 at Fort Lewis, Washington. In 2010, he deployed to Afghanistan where he served as the Chief of Staff for Combined Joint Task Force Paladin. Most recently he graduated from the National War College with a Master's of Science in Strategic Planning and Policy. COL Reckard's awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, Ranger Tab, Parachutist Badge, Air Assault Badge, and the Army Staff Identification Badge.
