U.S. Army General James H. Dickinson assumed duties as the Commander, U.S. Space Command, on Aug. 20, 2020, after most recently serving as the first Deputy Commander of U.S. Space Command, the 11th and most recently established unified combatant command.

He is a native of Estes Park, Colorado, and a graduate of Colorado State University. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and a Master of Science in Operations Research and Systems Analysis from the Colorado School of Mines. He later earned a master’s degree in Strategic Studies from the United States Army War College.

Gen. Dickinson’s command assignments include Commanding General of the Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command and Joint Functional Component Command for Integrated Missile Defense; Commanding General of the 32nd Army Air and Missile Defense Command; Commanding General of the 94th Army Air and Missile Defense Command; Brigade Commander of the 35th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, Eighth U.S. Army, Republic of Korea; and Battalion Commander of 1st Battalion, 7th Air Defense Artillery, which deployed in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.

His key staff assignments include Chief of Staff, U.S. Strategic Command; Director for Test at the Missile Defense Agency; Deputy to The Inspector General, Office of the Secretary of the Army; Deputy Director for Operations, National Military Command Center, J-3, Joint Staff; Chief, Commander’s Initiatives Group, United Nations Command/Combined Forces Command, Republic of Korea; Assistant Chief of Staff, G-3, 32nd Army Air and Missile Defense Command; Senior Emergency Actions Officer and Senior Operations Officer, National Military Command Center, J-3, Joint Staff; Operations Officer, 11th Air Defense Artillery Brigade; Operations Officer, 5th Battalion, 52nd Air Defense Artillery, 11th Air Defense Artillery Brigade supporting Operation Southern Watch.

Gen. Dickinson is the senior Air Defense Artillery Officer in the U.S Army. His awards and decorations include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, two Distinguished Service Medals, three Defense Superior Service Medals, three Legion of Merits, Bronze Star Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, three Meritorious Service Medals, three Army Commendation Medals, Joint Service Achievement Medal, four Army Achievement Medals, Parachutist Badge, Master Space Badge and Joint and Army Staff Identification Badges.