Maj. Gen. James E. Bonner serves as the Deputy Commanding General for United States Army North (Fifth Army) headquartered at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. He is responsible for plans, exercises, and operations for the Land Component Command of United States Northern Command (USNORTHCOM). U.S. Army North is the Theater Army and Army Service Component Command to U.S. Northern Command, the geographic combatant command for North America. U.S. Army North’s mission is Homeland Defense, Defense Support of Civil Authorities and Theater Security Cooperation.
Maj. Gen. Bonner is a native of Anna, Illinois, and received a Regular Army commission in May 1988 as a distinguished military graduate from Southern Illinois University. His military education includes the Chemical Officer’s Basic and Advanced Courses, Basic Airborne School, Ranger School, Jumpmaster School, Pathfinder School, The United States Command and General Staff College (CGSC), and the U.S. Naval War College. He holds Master’s Degrees in both Administration from Central Michigan University and National Security and Strategic Studies from the United States Naval War College.
General Officer assignments include HQDA G8, Director of Materiel; 29th Chief of Chemical/Commandant, United States Army Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear School, United States Army Maneuver Support Center of Excellence, Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri; 7th Commanding General of 20th CBRNE Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland and the 42nd Commanding General of the Maneuver Support Center of Excellence and Fort Leonard Wood.
His previous duties include Commands at the Company through General Officer level, and he has served in the following units/organizations: Conventional, Airborne, Ranger, FBI (Interagency), Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC), and HQDA G8. His overseas assignment included Republic of Korea and Operational Deployments for: Operation Just Cause in Panama and two tours in Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
Maj. Gen. Bonner’s awards and decorations include the Army Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit with Three Oak Leaf Clusters, Bronze Star Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Meritorious Service Medal with Four Oak Leaf Clusters, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal with Two Oak Leaf Clusters, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Army Achievement Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Joint Meritorious Unit Citation with Oak Leaf Cluster, Meritorious Unit Citation, Army Superior Unit Citation with Oak Leaf Cluster, National Defense Service Medal with Bronze Service Star, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with Arrowhead, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Korea Defense Service Medal, NATO Medal (ISAF), Ranger Tab, Master Parachutist Badge with Bronze Star, Pathfinder Badge, the Army Staff Identification Badge, Thailand, Australian and German Parachutist Badges. Maj. Gen. Bonner wears the 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment Scroll as his Combat Patch.