Brig. Gen. Darren V. James is the Commander, 379th Air Expeditionary Wing, Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar. This composite wing includes strike; intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; mobility; aeromedical evacuation; and command and control assets which support Operations Inherent Resolve and Freedom’s Sentinel. The wing provides support to more than 8,300 Air Force, joint, and coalition forces.

General James received his commission from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1990. He has served in multiple operational and training assignments and logged more than 5,000 hours in the C-5 Galaxy, KC-135 Stratotanker, C-17 Globemaster III, B-1B Lancer, T-1A Jayhawk, T-38 Talon and the T-37 Tweet. His notable staff assignments include U.S. Transportation Command Liaison Officer to U.S. Pacific Command; Aide-de-Camp to the 18th Air Force Commander; and the Tanker Airlift Control Center Deputy Chief of the Tanker Allocation Division and Liaison Officer to the U.S. Transportation Command.

General James commanded the 9th Airlift Squadron and the 71st Flying Training Wing. His operational assignments supported contingency operations during Desert Storm, Provide Hope, Support Hope, Provide Comfort, Northern Watch, Noble Eagle, Enduring Freedom, Freedom’s Sentinel, Iraqi Freedom and Inherent Resolve. Prior to his current assignment, General James was the Deputy Director, Operations and Plans Directorate, United States Transportation Command, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. 

EDUCATION 
1990 Bachelor of Science, Human Factors Engineering, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo.
1997 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2003 Master of Aeronautical Science, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona, Fla.
2003 Master of Military Operational Art and Science, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2007 Air War College, by correspondence, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2009 Master of Science, National Resource Strategy, Industrial College of the Armed Forces, National Defense University, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
2011 U.S. Air Force Enterprise Leadership Seminar, University of Virginia Darden School of Business, Charlottesville

ASSIGNMENTS
1. May 1990 - August 1991, Student, undergraduate pilot training, 82nd Flying Training Wing, Williams AFB, Ariz.
2. August 1991 - July 1995, Pilot Scheduler, Training Officer, Chief of Squadron plans and Aircraft Commander, C-5, 3rd Airlift Squadron, Dover AFB, Del.
3. October 1995 - February 1996, Pilot Instructor Training, T-37, 559th Flying Training Squadron, Randolph AFB, Texas
4. February 1996 - March 1997, Instructor Pilot, T-37, 8th Flying Training Squadron, Vance AFB, Okla.
5. August 1997 - February 1998, Pilot Instructor Training, T-1A, 99th Flying Training Squadron, Randolph AFB, Texas
6. February 1998 - June 1999, Instructor Pilot and Flight Commander, T-1A, 32nd Flying Training Squadron, Vance AFB, Okla.
7. June 1999 - June 2002, Wing Executive Officer, Assistant Operations officer, Evaluator Pilot, Instructor Pilot, C-5, 9th Airlift Squadron, Dover AFB, Del.
8. June 2002 - June 2003, Student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
9. June 2003 - December 2004, Deputy Chief, Tanker Allocation Division, Liaison Officer to U.S. Transportation Command, Tanker Airlift Control Center, Scott AFB, Ill.
10. December 2004 - October 2005, Aide-de-Camp to the Commander, 18th Air Force, Scott AFB, Ill.
11. November 2005 - October 2006, Chief, Wing Safety, 436th Airlift Wing, Dover AFB, Del.
(May 2006 - September 2006, Chief, Wing Safety, 376 Air Expeditionary Wing, Kyrgyz Republic)
12. November 2006 - June 2008, Commander, 9th Airlift Squadron, 436th Airlift Wing, Dover AFB, Del.
13. July 2008 - June 2009, Student, Industrial College of the Armed Forces, National Defense University, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
14. June 2009 - July 2011, U.S. Transportation Command Liaison Officer to U.S. Pacific Command, Camp H. M. Smith, Hawaii
15. July 2011 - June 2012, Vice Commander, 437th Airlift Wing, Joint Base Charleston, S.C.
16. June 2012 - June 2014, Commander, 71st Flying Training Wing, Vance AFB Okla.
17. June 2014 - June 2015, Deputy Director, Operations and Plans, U.S. Transportation Command, Scott AFB, Ill.
18. June 2015 - present, Commander, 379th Air Expeditionary Wing, Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar

SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS 
1. June 2009 - July 2011, U.S. Transportation Command Liaison Officer to U.S. Pacific Command, Camp H. M. Smith, Hawaii, as a colonel
2. June 2014 - June 2015, Deputy Director, Operations and Plans, U.S. Transportation Command, Scott AFB, Ill., as a colonel

FLIGHT INFORMATION 
Rating: command pilot
Flight hours: more than 5,000
Aircraft: B-1B, C-5, C-17, KC-135 T-1A, T-38, T-37

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS 
Defense Superior Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Legion of Merit
Meritorious Service Medal with five oak leaf clusters
Air Medal
Aerial Achievement Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Commendation Medal
Combat Readiness Medal with two oak leaf clusters
National Defense Service Medal with bronze service star
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Southwest Asia Service Medal with bronze service star
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal
Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with gold border
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon
Kuwaiti Liberation Medal (government of Kuwait)

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION 
Second Lieutenant May 30, 1990
First Lieutenant May 30, 1992
Captain May 30, 1994
Major June 1, 2001
Lieutenant Colonel March 1, 2006
Colonel Oct. 1, 2009
Brigadier General Aug. 2, 2015

(Current as of May 2016)