# James N. Stewart

James N. Stewart is a retired American military officer and civil servant. Confirmed as Assistant Secretary of Defense for Manpower and Reserve Affairs in the administration of Donald Trump, he served throughout his tenure as acting Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, before resigning the following year.

## Early life and education

Stewart was born the son of a retired Air Force lieutenant colonel and Vietnam War veteran, and, from a young age, he desired to follow in his father's footsteps. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in sociology and criminology from Auburn University, where he was also a member of the school's Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps.

## Air Force service

Stewart was commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1977 and left active duty in 1992. He continued his military career as a member of the Air Force Reserve Command until 2014.
His decorations include the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Airman's Medal, and Meritorious Service Medal.

## Civilian career

Following his retirement from the Air Force Reserve, Stewart moved to Charlotte, North Carolina. He was appointed to the North Carolina Military Affairs Commission by Governor Pat McCrory in 2015.
President Donald Trump tapped Stewart to be Assistant Secretary of Defense for Manpower and Reserve Affairs in January 2018 and was confirmed by the Senate on October 11. After serving in this position and as acting Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness until December 2019, he submitted his resignation to Secretary Mark Esper.

## Dates of rank

| Second lieutenant | First lieutenant | Captain | Major | Lieutenant colonel | Colonel | Brigadier general | Major general |
| O-1 | O-2 | O-3 | O-4 | O-5 | O-6 | O-7 | O-8 |
| June 7, 1977 | December 7, 1979 | December 7, 1981 | November 1, 1988 | June 13, 1996 | March 30, 2001 | February 17, 2007 | February 2, 2010 |

## Decorations

| Air Force Distinguished Service Medal | Air Force Distinguished Service Medal | Air Force Distinguished Service Medal | Legion of Merit with one oak leaf cluster | Legion of Merit with one oak leaf cluster | Legion of Merit with one oak leaf cluster |
| Airman's Medal | Airman's Medal | Meritorious Service Medal with seven oak leaf clusters | Meritorious Service Medal with seven oak leaf clusters | Aerial Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster | Aerial Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster |
| Air Force Commendation Medal | Air Force Commendation Medal | Air Force Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster | Air Force Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster | Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with three oak leaf clusters | Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with three oak leaf clusters |
| Air Force Organizational Excellence Award | Air Force Organizational Excellence Award | Combat Readiness Medal with two oak leaf clusters | Combat Readiness Medal with two oak leaf clusters | National Defense Service Medal with one service star | National Defense Service Medal with one service star |
| Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal | Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal | Southwest Asia Service Medal with three service stars | Southwest Asia Service Medal with three service stars | Global War on Terrorism Service Medal | Global War on Terrorism Service Medal |
| Air Force Longevity Service Award with seven oak leaf clusters | Air Force Longevity Service Award with seven oak leaf clusters | Armed Forces Reserve Medal with bronze hourglass device | Armed Forces Reserve Medal with bronze hourglass device | Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon | Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon |
| Air Force Training Ribbon | Air Force Training Ribbon | Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia) | Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia) | Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait) | Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait) |