ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - A 22-year veteran of the U.S. military has been named commander of an upstate New York-based Army National Guard aviation unit with elements currently serving in the Persian Gulf.
National Guard officials say Lt. Col. Jack James will be taking over command of the 42nd Combat Aviation Brigade, based in the Albany suburb of Latham. The brigade’s headquarters, along with other New York aviation units, deployed to Kuwait in December and is expected to return home in late summer.
James is currently commander of the 642nd Aviation Support Battalion, which has elements located in Rochester, Dunkirk, Olean, Long Island and Brooklyn.
The New York City native is a 1992 graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. He served Korea, Haiti and the Balkans during his 10 years in the Army before joining the National Guard.
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