Commanding General

By U.S. ArmyOctober 15, 2014

Lt. Gen. Terry
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

Lieutenant General James L. Terry is the commanding general of Third Army/ARCENT, the Army Service Component of U.S. Central Command. The command is home-based at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C. with portions of the command continuously deployed to the Middle East countries of Kuwait, Qatar and Afghanistan.

Previously, Lieutenant General Terry assumed command of the International Security Assistance Force Joint Command on June 2012. He also served as Deputy Commanding General, U.S. Forces -- Afghanistan and Commanding General, U.S. Army V Corps during this time.

Lieutenant General Terry assumed command of U.S. Army V Corps, headquartered at Wiesbaden, Germany, in November 2011. Prior to this assignment he served as Commanding General, 10th Mountain Division (Light), Fort Drum, NY, from September 2009 to November 2011, and was deployed as the Commander, ISAF Regional Command South from October 2010 to October 2011. From August 2004 to February 2007 he served as the Deputy Commanding General (Operations), 10th Mountain Division (Light) and deployed as the Deputy Commanding General (Operations) for Combined Joint Task Force-76, Afghanistan from January 2006 to February 2007.

Lieutenant General Terry was commissioned as an Infantry second lieutenant from North Georgia College in June 1978. He served in a wide variety of assignments that include rifle platoon leader, company executive officer, and anti-tank platoon leader while stationed with the 1-15th Infantry Battalion, 3rd Infantry Division in Kitzingen, Federal Republic of Germany; S-4 (Logistics), 2d Battalion, 327th Infantry, and S-3 (Operations), 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, KY; assistant professor of military science and the assistant commandant of cadets, North Georgia College, Dahlonega, GA; battalion executive officer, United Nations Command Security Force Battalion, the Joint Security Area, Panmunjom, Korea; deputy G3 and brigade executive officer, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, KY; executive officer to The Inspector General, U.S. Army; chief of initiatives, and deputy commander of the Joint Warfighting Center, U.S. Joint Forces Command in Norfolk, VA. In December 2003, he was deployed to Kuwait as the operations officer, Combined Forces Land Component Command/ARCENT in support of both Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Lieutenant General Terry commanded with distinction at every possible level. In 1981 he commanded Company A, 2-327th Infantry, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) at Fort Campbell, KY. He also commanded 2-22nd Infantry Battalion, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), at Fort Drum, NY from June 1994 to June 1996. During his command, the battalion deployed to Haiti in support of Operation Restore Democracy. From April 1998 until July 2000, Lieutenant General Terry commanded the 2nd Brigade, 25th Infantry Division (Light Infantry), Schofield Barracks, HI. He also served as Commander, Operations Group, Joint Readiness Training Center, Fort Polk, LA, from July 2002 until December 2003. From April 2007 to December 2009 he served as the director of the Future Force Integration Directorate for the Army Capabilities Integration Center at Fort Bliss, TX. In this capacity he was responsible for the synchronization and integration of all Army Brigade Combat Team modernization efforts.

Born in Chatsworth, Ga., Lieutenant General Terry was commissioned as an Infantry second lieutenant from North Georgia College in June 1978. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing and Management from North Georgia College; a Master of Arts in Business Administration from Webster University; and a Master of Science in National Security Strategy and Policy from the National Defense University. His military training includes Basic Airborne School, Army Ranger School, Air Assault School, Infantry Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, Combined Arms and Services Staff School, Command and General Staff Officer Course, Inspector General Course, and the National War College.

The general's awards include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the Distinguished Service Medal, the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit (with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters), the Bronze Star Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster), the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal (with 5 Oak Leaf Clusters), the Army Commendation Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster), the Army Achievement Medal, the Joint Meritorious Unit Award, the Meritorious Unit Commendation, the Army Superior Unit Award (with Oak Leaf Cluster), the Combat Action Badge; Expert Infantryman Badge; Parachutist Badge; Air Assault Badge; and the Ranger Tab.