James H. Adams III

James H. Adams III
Official portrait, 2026
Born (1968-04-30) 30 April 1968
AllegianceUnited States
BranchUnited States Marine Corps
Service years1991–present
RankLieutenant General
CommandsDefense Intelligence Agency
MAWTS-1
HMLA-367
AwardsLegion of Merit
ChildrenJessica • Jake • John

James H. Adams III (born 30 April 1968) is a United States Marine Corps lieutenant general who served as the deputy commandant for programs and resources of the Marine Corps. He previously served as the deputy director for requirements and capability development of the Joint Staff.[1]

In July, Adams was nominated for promotion to lieutenant general and assignment as deputy commandant for programs and resources of the Marine Corps.[2][3]

LtGen Adams was nominated to lead the Defense Intelligence Agency.[4] Adams was confirmed and assumed the role of Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency on 13 February 2026.

Marine Corps Deployments and Commands

Adams has flown more than 3,300 hours in the AH-1W Super Cobra, including over 300 combat flight hours. He has made amphibious deployments with a Marine Expeditionary Unit and deployed multiples times to Iraq and Afghanistan. As a Lieutenant Colonel Adams commanded Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 367 HMLA-367 and as a Colonel he commanded Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One (MAWTS-1) of the United States Marine Corps Training and Education Command. [5]

Education

Naval Academy, BS in Computer Science, 1991.

Joint Advanced Warfighting School, MS in Joint Campaign Planning and Strategy, 2010.

Harvard Business School, Advanced Management Program, 2016.

Harvard Kennedy School, Cyber Policy Course, 2020. [6]

Awards

Adams personal decorations include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Medal, the Navy Commendation Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, the Iraqi Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terror Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terror Service Medal, and the Korean Defense Service Medal.[7]

References

  1. ^ "Major General James H. Adams" (PDF). docs.house.gov. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
  2. ^ "PN823 - 1 nominee for Marine Corps, 118th Congress (2023-2024) | Congress.gov | Library of Congress". 5 December 2023.
  3. ^ "General Officer Announcement". U.S. Department of Defense. Archived from the original on 19 July 2023.
  4. ^ "Secretary of War General Officer Announcements for January 20, 2026". Department of War. 20 January 2026. Retrieved 21 February 2026.
  5. ^ "Major General James H. Adams" (PDF). docs.house.gov. Retrieved 21 February 2026.
  6. ^ "Major General James H. Adams" (PDF). docs.house.gov. Retrieved 21 February 2026.
  7. ^ "Deputy Commandant for Programs and Resources Lieutenant General James H. Adams III". marines.mil. Retrieved 6 March 2026.
  • Media related to James H. Adams III at Wikimedia Commons