Major General James C. Witham
Major General James C. Witham served as the Director of Domestic Operations and Force Development (J3/7) for the National Guard Bureau. He was responsible for the planning, coordination, and integration of all aspects of National Guard activities relating to Domestic Operations at the national level. Specifically, he provided direct supervision of the National Guard Bureau's Coordination Center, Counterdrug Program, current and future Domestic Operations planning, and joint exercises and training, as well as the Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Response Enterprise. He also advised senior civilian and military leaders at the national and State level on matters related to Domestic Operations.
General Witham was commissioned in 1980 through the United States Air Force Academy, in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where he was a distinguished graduate earning his Bachelor of Science in Engineering Sciences. Following undergraduate pilot training, where he was a distinguished graduate in 1981, he served on active duty for nine years flying the F-15. During this time, he was the outstanding graduate of his F-15 Fighter Weapons Instructor Course and the Tactical Air Command instructor of the year in 1987. General Witham joined the District of Columbia Air National Guard in 1990, where he flew the F-16 as a mission commander, instructor pilot and flight examiner. He has held numerous command positions including support flight, fighter squadron and operations group.
General Witham has served as Director of Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance and the Director of Air, Space and Information Operations at the National Guard Bureau. He has also commanded the California Air National Guard. Prior to assuming his current duties, he was the Deputy Director of the Air National Guard.
General Witham is a command pilot with more than 4,000 flying hours, primarily in F-15 and F-16 aircraft. His combat flying experience includes operations Northern Watch, Noble Eagle and Iraqi Freedom. General Witham is an airline pilot in his civilian career, flying as a B737 Captain.
EDUCATION:
1980 Bachelor of Science, United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colorado
1985 Squadron Officer School, by correspondence
1987 F-15 Fighter Weapons Instructor Course, Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada
1998 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
2002 Air War College, by correspondence
2009 Department of Defense National Security Studies Program, Elliott School of International Affairs, George Washington University, Washington, District of Columbia
2011 National Defense University, Capstone, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, District of Columbia
2014 Joint Force Air Component Commanders Course, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama
2015 Advanced Joint Professional Military Education
ASSIGNMENTS:
1. June 1980 - August 1981, Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi
2. August 1981 - April 1982, Student, Operational Training Course, F-15, Luke Air Force Base, Arizona
3. April 1982 - September 1984, Aircraft Commander, F-15, 94th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Langley Air Force Base, Virginia
4. September 1984 - October 1985, Instructor Pilot, F-15, 555th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron, Luke Air Force Base, Arizona
5. October 1985 - January 1987, Academic Instructor, F-15, 405th Tactical Training Squadron, Luke Air Force Base, Arizona
6. January 1987 - May 1987, Student, F-15 Fighter Weapons Instructor Course, 57th Fighter Weapons Squadron, Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada
7. May 1987 - January 1988, Weapons and Tactics Officer, F-15, 555th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron, Luke Air Force Base, Arizona
8. January 1988 - April 1988, Flight Commander, 555th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron, Luke Air Force Base, Arizona
9. April 1988 - May 1989, Chief of Weapons and Tactics, 318th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, McChord Air Force Base, Washington
10. May 1989 - May 1990, Chief of Standardization and Evaluation, 318th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, McChord Air Force Base, Washington
11. May 1990 - December 1990, Inactive Status, Headquarters Air Reserve Personnel Center, Denver, Colorado
12. December 1990 - January 1993, Aircraft Commander, F-16, 121st Fighter Squadron, Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland
13. January 1993 - September 1998, Weapons and Tactics Officer, F-16, 113th Operational Support Flight, Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland
14. September 1998 - October 1999, Flight Commander, 121st Fighter Squadron, Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland
15. October 1999 - July 2000, Commander, 113th Operations Support Flight, Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland
16. July 2000 - June 2002, Commander, 121st Fighter Squadron, Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland
17. June 2002 - July 2003, Assistant Commander, 113th Operations Group, Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland
18. July 2003 - March 2005, Commander, 113th Operations Group, Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland
19. March 2005 - June 2006, Director of Operations, District of Columbia Joint Force Headquarters, Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland
20. June 2006 - August 2007, Director of Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance, National Guard Bureau, Arlington, Virginia
21. August 2007 - July 2010, Director of Air, Space and Information Operations, National Guard Bureau, Arlington, Virginia
22. July 2010 - October 2011, Chief of Staff, New Jersey Air National Guard, Joint Base McGuire-Dix- Lakehurst, New Jersey
23. November 2011 - October 2012, Commander, California Air National Guard, Sacramento, California
24. November 2012 - August 2015, Deputy Director, Air National Guard, the Pentagon, Washington, District Of Columbia
25. August 2015 - December 2017, Director, Domestic Operations and Force Development (J-3/7), National Guard Bureau, the Pentagon, Washington, District Of Columbia
26. August 2015 - Present, Director, J-3/7, National Guard Bureau, Washington, District of Columbia
FLIGHT INFORMATION:
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight Hours: more than 4,000
Aircraft Flown: T-37, T-38, AT-38, F-15 A/B/C/D, F-16 A/B/C/D
AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit
Meritorious Service Medals with two Oak Leaf Clusters
Air Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters
Air Force Achievement Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor Device and 12 Oak Leaf Clusters
Organizational Excellence Award with two Oak Leaf Clusters
Combat Readiness Medal with nine Oak Leaf Clusters
National Defense Service Medal with Bronze Service Star
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Gold Border
Air Force Longevity Service Award with four Oak Leaf Clusters
Armed Forces Reserve Medal with "M" Device
Air Force Training Ribbon
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION:
Second Lieutenant May 28, 1980
First Lieutenant May 28, 1982
Captain May 28, 1984
Major Nov. 7, 1993
Lieutenant Colonel Aug. 12, 1998
Colonel Sep. 3, 2003
Brigadier General Oct. 1, 2010
Major General Jan. 1, 2013
(Current as of January 2018)