James David Thurman
General, U.S. Army

James David Thurman was born on 19 September 1953 and is a native of Marietta, OK. He received a Bachelor of Arts in History from East Central University and a Master of Arts in Management from Webster University. In 1975, Thurman received a Regular Army Commission as a Second Lieutenant through the Reserve Officer's Training Corps.

Thurman began his military career in the 4th Infantry Division serving as Platoon Leader, Executive Officer, and Motor Officer for 6th Battalion, 32d Armor. He has commanded at all levels from Company to Division. After attending the Officer Rotary Wing Aviator Course, he commanded the Aero-Scout Platoon and later became the Operations Officer, A Troop, 1st Squadron, 17th Cavalry, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, NC.

In 1981-82, he attended the Armor Officer Advanced Course, U.S. Armor School, Fort Knox, KY. Upon completion, Thurman attended the AH-64 Aviator Qualification Course, U.S. Army Aviation Center at Fort Rucker, AL, and he then served as Executive Officer, 3rd Squadron, 6th Cavalry Brigade, Fort Hood, TX.

During 1989-91, Thurman served as Executive Officer for 1st Battalion, 32d Armor, 1st Cavalry Division in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, Saudi Arabia.

Thurman's previous assignments also include Commander of 2nd Squadron, 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment; 3d Squadron, 4th Cavalry, 3rd Infantry Division (Mechanized), U.S. Army Europe and Seventh Army, Germany; Commander, 2nd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division (Mechanized), Fort Stewart, GA; Commander, Operations Group, U.S. Army National Training Center, Fort Irwin, CA; Assistant to the Chief of Staff for Plans and Policy, Allied Forces Southern Europe, Regional Command South, Italy; Commanding General, National Training Center and Fort Irwin, CA; Director of Training, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-3, U.S. Army; and Chief, Operations, Coalition Forces Land Component Command, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Camp Doha, Kuwait.

Thurman left Kuwait to become the Director, Army Aviation Task Force, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-3, U.S. Army in Washington, DC, where he remained until his arrival at Fort Hood as the Commanding General of 4th Infantry.

On 2 October 2006, Thurman was nominated for promotion to the rank of Lieutenant General by President George W. Bush. He returned from the Iraq War with the 4th Infantry Division in November 2006 after a second tour. He received his third star on 19 January 2007.

From 19 January to 8 August 2007, Thurman was the Commanding General of U.S. V Corps in Heidelberg, Germany. He served as the 18th Commanding General, U.S. Army Forces Command from 3 June 2010 to 8 July 2011.

On 14 July 2011, he began his current assignment as Commander, United Nations Command and concurrently serves as Commander, R.O.K.-U.S. Combined Forces Command and as Commander, U.S. Forces Korea.

General Thurman retired from the Army on 22 November 2013 at Fort Hood, TX. Army Chief of Staff GEN Raymond Odierno presided over the ceremony.

Medals, Awards and Badges

Army Distinguished Service Medal with 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters
Defense Superior Service Medal with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
Legion of Merit with 3 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters
Bronze Star Medal with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
Meritorious Service Medal with Silver Oak Leaf Cluster
Army Commendation Medal
Army Achievement Medal with 3 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters
National Defense Service Medal with Bronze Star
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Southwest Asia Service Medal with 2 Bronze Stars
Kosovo Campaign Medal with Bronze Star
Iraq Campaign Medal
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Army Service Ribbon
Army Overseas Service Ribbon with Award Numeral 2
NATO Medal (Yugoslavia) with Bronze Star
Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia)
Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)
Joint Meritorious Unit Award with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
Army Valorous Unit Award
Army Superior Unit Award
Combat Action Badge
Senior Army Aviator Badge
Parachutist Badge
Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge
Army Staff Identification Badge