BRIGADIER GENERAL AVON C. JAMES

Brigadier General Avon C. James is director of computer resources, Office of the Comptroller of the Air Force, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C. General James is responsible for providing overall management and direction of the Air Force's automatic data processing program.

General James was born in 1930, in Hampton, Va., and graduated from Frederick Douglass High School in Baltimore in 1947. He earned a bachelor's degree from Morgan State University in 1951.

Enlisting in the Air Force in 1951, General James served as a weather observer with the Air Weather Service prior to entering Officer Candidate School.

Following commissioning as a second lieutenant in June 1953, General James attended Personnel Officer School and was assigned to the 81st Fighter Wing, Royal Air Force Station Bentwaters, England, as a personnel officer. In July 1957 he returned to the United States and was assigned to the 1001st Air Base Wing at Andrews Air Force Base, Md. While serving with the wing General James was assigned as a personnel officer with the field maintenance squadron, operations group, maintenance and supply group and completed his tour of duty as chief of the Consolidated Base Personnel Office.

In June 1963 General James returned to England with the 304th Munitions Maintenance Squadron at Royal Air Force Station Alconbury, where he served as chief of personnel and administration. In September 1965 he was assigned to the 7232nd Munitions Maintenance Group at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, as chief, Personnel and Administration Division.

General James returned to the United States in March 1967 and attended the command and control system computer programmer course at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss. Upon completion of this course in July 1967, he was assigned to the Analysis and Programming Branch of the Air Force Command Post's Systems Division, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C. During this assignment he served in several positions, each of which involved the development of applications software in support of the Headquarters U.S. Air Force command and control system.

In July 1972 General James was assigned as a computer systems staff officer with the Automatic Data Processing Equipment Selection directorate at Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass., until July 1973 when he was assigned as chief of staff, Electronic Systems Division, Air Force Systems Command at Hanscom Air Force Base.

In June 1978 General James was assigned as the first deputy commander for data automation, Headquarters Air Force Communications Command, Scott Air Force Base, Ill. He was responsible for the overall management and direction of eight data automation organizations that provided a broad range of services to the Office of the Secretary of Defense, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, major commands, bases and designated government agencies. He assumed his present position in February 1980.

His military decorations and awards include the Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster and Air Force Organizational Excellence Award.

He was promoted to brigadier general June 1, 1980, with same date of rank.

(Current as of July 1980)