James Thurman nominated to rank of general

ADA — President Barack H. Obama officially nominated Lt. Gen. James D. Thurman, Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, to the rank of general. If his nomination is confirmed by the Senate, he will succeed Gen. Charles Campbell, Commanding General, Forces Command (FORSCOM), at Fort McPherson, Ga.

Thurman assumed the position as the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations in September 2007, after serving as the Commanding General, V Corps, Heidelberg, Germany. Prior to his tour as the V Corps Commander, he commanded 4th Infantry Division, and Multi National Division-Baghdad.

As the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, he is responsible for ensuring that our deploying Soldiers are trained, equipped and best prepared for combat and training operations. He ensures that our soldiers retain the asymmetric advantage on the battlefield by preparing them for success in future conflict.

Thurman is from Marietta, Okla., and was commissioned in the Armor Branch upon graduation from East Central University at Ada, in 1975. He has held leadership and command positions in armor and aviation units from platoon to Corps level serving in Europe and the United States, including Assistant to the Chief of Staff for Plans and Policy (J5), Allied Forces Southern Europe, Regional Command South, Italy; Commanding General, National Training Center and Fort Irwin, Fort Irwin Calif.; and Chief, Operations, Coalition Forces Land Component Command C3, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Camp Doha, Kuwait. In addition, he has held a number of staff assignments: Director of Training, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-3, and Director, Army Aviation Task Force, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-3.

Thurman is a graduate of the Command and General Staff College and the Army War College. He received his Master of Arts in Business Management from Webster University.

Awards and decorations earned by Thurman include the Distinguished Service Medal (one oak leaf cluster), Defense Superior Service Medal (one oak leaf cluster), the Legion of Merit (three oak leaf clusters), the Bronze Star Medal (with one oak leaf cluster), the Meritorious Service Medal (five oak leaf clusters), the Army Commendation Medal, and the Army Achievement Medal (three oak leaf clusters). Thurman is a Senior Army Aviator and has earned the Combat Action Badge, the Parachutist Badge, and the Army Staff Identification Badge.

Thurman is married to the former Delia L. Hilton and they have two daughters, Jaime who is married to Lt. Col. Miles Brown and Carey who is married to Maj. Scott Thomas currently serving in Iraq with the 1st Infantry Division. They have four grandchildren Tyler Thomas, James Thomas, Abigail Brown and Andrew Brown.

Thurman is the son of the late Jack and Nettie Mae Thurman. He has a brother retired Col. J.W. Thurman from Elizabethtown, Kentucky.

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