Garrison Commander
LT Colonel David R. James
Lieutenant Colonel David R. James was born and raised in the Meredosia, Illinois. After graduating from Meredosia Chambersburg High School in 1983, he attended Western Illinois University receiving a Bachelors of Science in Industrial Technology. Graduating as a Distinguished Military Graduate in May 1987, he received a commission as a Second Lieutenant in the Regular Army with the Ordnance Corps.
LTC James' initial assignment was as a platoon leader and Maintenance Control Officer with the 14th Maintenance Company, 19th Maintenance Battalion, 3rd Corps Support Command based in Wiesbaden Germany. He next served as the Operations Officer for the 17th Data Processing Detachment and Maintenance Officer for the Special Troops Battalion, 3rd COSCOM. On promotion to Captain, he attended the Ordnance Officers Advance Course followed by assignment to the 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood Texas where he served as a Materiel Management Officer for the Division Materiel Management Center. He was later selected and assumed command of Bravo Company (maintenance), 215th Forward Support Battalion, 3rd Brigade 1st Cavalry Division.
After completing command, LTC James served as a Regular Army Training Advisor to the 256th Infantry Brigade, Louisiana Army National Guard in Alexandria Louisiana. With his promotion to Major, LTC James became an Observer Controller Trainer Team Chief, and later the Operations Officer, for the 3rd Battalion, 289th Regiment (Training Support), 2nd Brigade 75th Division, supporting the training needs of United States Army Reserve and Army National Guard units in Texas and Louisiana, and during mobilizations in support of Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom. In July 2005, LTC James became the Deputy Commander of the Exercise Support Command and Deputy Chief of Staff for Reserve Affairs at Fort Irwin California. After Promotion to Lieutenant Colonel in December 2007, he went to Headquarters, Department of the Army (Pentagon), where he served as the Chief of the Logistics Readiness Branch for the Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics (G4) and deployed to Iraq as the G4's Liaison Officer to Headquarters, United States Forces - Iraq.
LTC James' military schools include the, the Ordnance Officer Basic and Advance Courses, the NBC Officers Course, the Maintenance Officer Course, the Support Operations Course, the Combined Arms Services Staff School and the Command and General Staff College. He holds a Masters of Administration from Central Michigan University.
His awards and decorations include: Meritorious Service Medal (4), Army Commendation Medal (4), Army Achievement Medal, Army Superior Unit Award, Army Reserve Achievement Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Medal, Army Service Ribbon, and Overseas Service ribbon. LTC James also holds the Army Staff Identification Badge, and is a member of the Order of Samuel Sharpe.