Brig. Gen. James N. Coombes II is the mobilization assistant to the Director of Air and Cyberspace Operations, Headquarters Pacific Air Forces, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii. PACAF provides ready air, space and cyber power to promote U.S. interests in the Asia-Pacific region during peacetime, through crisis and in war. In this capacity, General Coombes assists with oversight of operations for three numbered Air Forces and 10 wings in support of over 46,000 Airmen serving in Japan, Korea, Hawaii, Alaska and Guam. In addition, he executes duties as Joint Task Force Commander and Joint Air Component Coordination Element Commander in support of the Pacific Command.
General Coombes entered the Air Force in 1989 as a graduate of Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama. He has supported numerous Combatant Commands, including U.S. Pacific Command, U.S. European Command, U.S. Central Command, U.S. Southern Command and U.S. Strategic Command. In 2006, he deployed to Southwest Asia as the Master Air Attack Plan Chief in support of operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. In 2007, he deployed to Iraq where he worked for a classified counter-terrorism task force, and in 2008 and 2009, he deployed to Afghanistan where he supported a project on behalf of the Commander, U.S. Forces Afghanistan. In 2010, General Coombes became the acting Director of Operations for the Air Force Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance Agency. He later returned to AFISRA to run a counter-narcotics task force for the AFISRA Commander. General Coombes was the Commander of the 701st Combat Operations Squadron from July 2011 through July 2012, and prior to his current assignment General Coombes was the Mobilization Assistant the Commander U.S. Air Force Warfare Center, Nellis AFB, Nevada.
EDUCATION
1987 Bachelor of Science in business, Auburn University, Auburn, Ala.
1994 Master of Business Administration, Auburn University, Auburn, Ala.
1995 Squadron Officer School, by correspondence
2005 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
2006 Air War College, by correspondence
2011 Advanced Joint PME, Norfolk, Va.
2012 Air Force Leadership Enhancement Program, Center for Creative Leadership, Greensboro, N.C.
2013 Space Operations Course - Executive Level, Nellis AFB, Nev.
2015 National and International Security Symposium, Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. November 1989 - August 1990, specialized undergraduate navigator training/electronic warfare school, Mather AFB, Calif.
2. August 1990 - May 1991, B52 formal training, Castle AFB, Calif.
3. May 1991 - June 1992, B52G/H Electronic Warfare Officer, 20th Bomb Squadron, Carswell AFB, Texas
4. June 1992 - June 1996, B52H Electronic Warfare Officer, 20th Bomb Squadron, Barksdale AFB, La.
5. June 1996 - August 1998, Search and Rescue Coordinator, U.S. Air Force Rescue Coordination Center, Langley AFB, Va.
6. August 1998 - March 2000, IMA to the State Wing (Civil Air Patrol Liaison Officer), New Orleans, La.
7. March 2000 - March 2001, Special Operations Navigator (Liaison Officer), U.S. Forces Korea
8. March 2001 - March 2003, Bomber Duty Officer, 701st Combat Operations Squadron, March Air Reserve Base, Calif.
9. March 2003 - January 2005, Flight Commander, 701st Combat Operations Squadron, March ARB, Calif.
10. January 2005 - September 2008, Information Operations Staff Officer, JIOWC, Lackland AFB, Texas
11. September 2008 - April 2009, developmental engineer, 70th OSS, Fort George G. Meade, Md.
12. April 2009 - August 2009, IMA to the A3, Air Force ISR Agency, Lackland AFB, Texas
13. August 2009 - June 2011, Deputy Commander, 701st Combat Operations Squadron, March ARB, Calif.
14. June 2011 - June 2012, Commander, 701st Combat Operations Squadron, March ARB, Calif.
15. July 2012 - February 2017, Mobilization Assistant to the Commander, U.S. Air Force Warfare Center, Nellis AFB, Nev.
16. February 2017 - present, Mobilization Assistant to the Director of Air and Cyberspace Operations, Pacific Air Forces, JB Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii
JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
January 2005 - September 2008, Information Operations Staff Officer, Joint Information Operations Warfare Command, Lackland AFB, Texas, as a lieutenant colonel
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: senior navigator/electronic warfare officer
Flight hours: 1,500
Aircraft flown: B52G/H
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit
Bronze Star Medal
Defense Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medal
Iraq Campaign Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant Nov. 7, 1989
First Lieutenant Nov. 7, 1991
Captain Nov. 7, 1993
Major Aug. 28, 1998
Lieutenant Colonel Sept. 30, 2004
Colonel Sept. 15, 2008
Brigadier General March 26, 2015
(Current as of October 2017)