Major General James (Jamie) B. Jarrard was born in Germany where his father served as an Armor Lieutenant. Upon graduation from North Hall High School, he attended Basic Training at Fort Benning, Georgia and served in the Georgia National Guard while attending College. He was commissioned and entered on to active duty on 25 May 1988 at North Georgia College, Dahlonega, Georgia.

After his graduation from the Infantry Officers Basic Course at Fort Benning, Georgia, MG Jarrard’s first assignment was with B Company, 7th Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment, 1st Armored Division, in Germany. He subsequently served at the 5th Ranger Training Battalion in Dahlonega, Georgia before assignment to the 25th Infantry Division at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii where he served as the Assistant S3 for 3d Brigade and Commander, Bravo Company, 2-27 Infantry.

He has served in numerous command and staff assignments in the US Special Operations Command along with assignments to 7th Infantry Division and the Joint Staff. His eight operational assignments include leadership and command positions from OPERATION DESERT STORM in 1991 in Kuwait to his most recent assignment as Commander, Special Operation Joint Task Force – OPERATION INHERENT RESOLVE during 2017-2018. Major General Jarrard served as the Director of Operations, J3, U.S. Special Operations Command, MacDill AFB, Tampa, Florida. Most recently, he served as the Commanding General of the 25th Infantry Division at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.

MG Jarrard holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from North Georgia College and a Master of Science in Military Operational Art and Science from the Air University. Additionally, he is a graduate of the Air Command and Staff College and served as a Senior Service College Fellow at the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies.