General James I. Granger

Brigadier General James I. Granger was deputy director for politico-military affairs, Plans and Policy Directorate, J-5, Organization of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Washington, D.C. He was responsible for regional planning and policy matters of an international politico-military nature and for providing planning guidance to the unified commands. 

General Granger was born in 1929, in Kissimmee, Fla., where he graduated from Osceola High School. He graduated from the Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., in 1965, concurrently earning a bachelor of business administration degree from The George Washington University, Washington, D.C. In 1973 he earned a master of science degree in administration from The George Washington University.

After enlisting in the U.S. Air Force in August 1950, he entered the aviation cadet program in 1951. After pilot training at Bainbridge Air Base, Ga., and Vance Air Force Base, Okla., he earned his wings and received his commission as a second lieutenant in October 1952. He then went to B-29 bomber training at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas, and Forbes Air Force Base, Kan.

His first operational assignment was as a B-29 pilot with the 19th Bombardment Wing at Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, from July 1953 to July 1954. He was serving as a B-47 pilot when the wing returned to the United States, first to McCoy Air Force Base, Fla., in April 1954, and then to Homestead Air Force Base, Fla., in July 1956. The general attended navigation school for pilots at James Connally Air Force Base, Texas, from July to December 1957. After receiving his navigator wings he was assigned as a B-47 pilot and assistant operations officer with the 9th Bombardment Wing, Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho. Following B-52 transition training at Castle Air Force Base, Calif., and Walker Air Force Base, N.M., in 1960, General Granger was assigned to the 68th Bombardment Wing, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., as a B-52 commander. He progressed to instructor pilot and then standardization pilot and received a "spot" promotion to major.

After graduation from Air Command and Staff College in June 1965, General Granger was assigned as chief of the Exercise Branch, Directorate of Operations, Headquarters 8th Air Force, Westover Air Force Base, Mass. He was responsible for planning and in-flight monitoring of all mass exercises, operational readiness inspections, air defense exercises and Southeast Asia deployments. In May 1967 General Granger became chief, Future Concepts Branch, Directorate of Operations Plans, Headquarters Strategic Air Command, Offutt Air Force Base, Neb. His duties included development of future planning for the Single Integrated Operations Plan, future concepts of operations for SAC aircraft and B-52 and KC-135 Southeast Asia basing and unit rotation.

From July 1970 until July 1971, General Granger was assigned to Cam Ranh Bay Air Base, Republic of Vietnam, first as the assistant deputy commander for operations, 483rd Tactical Airlift Wing and later commander, 457th Tactical Airlift Squadron. He flew C-7 Caribous while assigned at Cam Ranh Bay. He returned to the United States in July 1971 as action officer and assistant chief, Strategic Division, Directorate of Plans, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C. His job was to determine strategic force development requirements. In July 1972 General Granger was assigned to the Directorate of Policy, Plans and National Security Council Affairs, Office of the Secretary of Defense, Washington, D.C. His duties included nuclear arms control matters and strategic policy. In December 1974 he was assigned to Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash., as deputy commander for operations, 92nd Bombardment Wing.

General Granger returned to the Pentagon in May 1976, as chief of the Strategic Negotiations Division, Directorate of Plans and Policy, Organization of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and in April 1979 he become the assistant deputy director for International Negotiations and Strategic Arms Limitation Talks. In these positions he developed the position of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on strategic arms limitations. General Granger was reassigned within the Directorate of Plans and Policy as assistant deputy director for politico-military affairs in June 1980. He assumed his present duties in July 1981.

A command pilot, General Granger has flown more than 5,000 hours, and during the Vietnam War flew more than 100 combat missions. His military decorations and awards include the Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, Air Medal with two oak leaf clusters and Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster. He was promoted to brigadier general April 1, 1979, with same date of rank.

General Granger retired Aug. 1, 1982,/

Biography courtesy of the USAF - http://www.af.mil/information/bios/index.asp