Col James Meier is commander, 341st Security Forces Group, Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana, home of the largest security forces group in the United States Air Force. He leads five security forces squadrons of more than 1,200 personnel in providing security and force protection for the 341st Missile Wing, including its main operating base, 15 launch control centers and 150 intercontinental ballistic missiles deployed across 13,800- square-miles in central Montana.
Col Meier entered the Air Force in 1998 and received his commission through the United States Air Force Academy where he graduated with military distinction. He is a career Security Forces officer and has previously served as a staff officer at the Joint, Air Staff and wing levels, to include duties as the Director, Budget Programs, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Financial Management), the Pentagon, Washington D.C. He has also completed multiple command tours both overseas and within the United States. Prior to his current position, the colonel was the the Chief, Plans, Programs, and Arms Control Division, Directorate of Plans, Programs, and Analyses, Headquarters USAFE-AFAFRICA, Ramstein AB, Germany.
EDUCATION
1998 Bachelor of Science in History, United States Air Force Academy, Colo.
2002 United States Army Air Assault School, Fort Polk, La.
2003 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2009 Master of Military Operational Art and Science, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2010 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2012 United States Army Airborne School, Fort Benning, Ga.
2012 United States Marine Corps Command and Staff College, Quantico, Va., by correspondence
2018 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2018 Master of Strategic Studies, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 1998–June 2001, Flight Commander, 2nd Security Forces Squadron, Barksdale AFB, La.
2. June 2001–May 2003, Strategic Plans Officer, 37th Training Wing, Lackland AFB, Texas
3. May 2003–September 2005, Operations Officer, 5th SFS, Minot AFB, N.D.
4. September 2005–October 2006, Operations Officer, 8th SFS, Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea
5. October 2006–June 2009, Chief, Security Inspections, Defense Threat Reduction Agency, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
6. June 2009–June 2010, Student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
7. June 2010–June 2011, Commander, Joint Security Forces, Joint Task Force-Bravo, Soto Cano AB, Republic of Honduras
8. July 2011–July 2013, Commander, 824th Base Defense Squadron, Moody AFB, Ga. (June 2012–November 2012, Operations Officer, 455th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron, Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan and November 2012-January 2013, Commander, 755th ESFS, Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan)
9. July 2013–September 2014, Program Element Monitor, Directorate of Security Forces, the Pentagon, Washington D.C.
10. October 2014–July 2015, Chief, Integrated Defense Programs, Directorate of Resource Integration, the Pentagon, Washington D.C.
11. July 2015–June 2017, Commander, 377th Weapons System Security Squadron, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
12. July 2017–May 2018, Student, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
13. May 2018–September 2019, Executive Officer to the Director of Security Forces, Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics, Engineering and Force Protection, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
14. September 2019–May 2020, Director, Budget Programs, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Financial Management), the Pentagon, Washington D.C. 15. June 2020–June 2021, Commander, 39th Weapons System Security Group, Incirlik AB, Turkey
16. July 2021–July 2023, Chief, Plans, Programs and Arms Control Division, Directorate of Plans, Programs, and Analyses, Headquarters USAFE-AFAFRICA, Ramstein AB, Germany
17. July 2023–present, Commander, 341st Security Forces Group, Malmstrom AFB, Mont.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit
Bronze Star Medal
Defense Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Service Medal with five oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Joint Service Achievement Medal
Air and Space Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Army Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
1998 United States Air Force Academy, Graduated with Military Distinction
2003 Squadron Officer School, Distinguished and Outstanding Graduate
2003 5th Bomb Wing Company Grade Officer of the Year
2006 8th Fighter Wing Lance P. Sijan Award Nominee
2013 Air Combat Command Lance P. Sijan Award Nominee
2018 Major General Floyd L. Carpenter Award, Air War College
(Current as of October 2023)