Commander
Lt. Col. James Williamson was appointed Commander of the Hernando County Composite Squadron in February 2023. He is a retired U.S. Army Special Forces officer with multiple combat tours during his 33-year Army career. Lt. Col. Williamson is currently a small business owner of a Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business defense contracting company.
In addition to being the squadron commander, Lt. Col. Williamson is the squadron's Cadet Programs officer.
Life as a Civil Air Patrol Cadet
As a teen, Lt. Col. Williamson joined the Brandywine Cadet Squadron, Delaware Wing in 1972. Lt. Col. Williamson was an active cadet, frequently in a leadership role. He was awarded the Eaker Award and promoted to Cadet/Lieutenant Colonel.
As a cadet, he was awarded the prestigious Silver Medal of Valor for heroism. The Silver Medal of Valor is the highest decoration awarded in the Civil Air Patrol issued for “distinguished and conspicuous heroic action, at the risk of life, above and beyond the call of normal duty.”
He served as a cadet until his Army commissioning in 1982.
U.S. Army Career
Lt. Col. Williamson served ten years on active duty in the U.S. Army as an infantry and Special Forces officer. He continued his career for another 20 years as a reservist serving in various active-duty units in command and staff positions. Lt. Col. Williamson retired in June 2012 as a colonel with 33 years of total service.
Notable military achievements and duties include:
- Air Assault, Airborne, Jumpmaster, Ranger, and Special Forces Qualification Courses
- Platoon Leader and XO 1/36 Infantry Germany
- Assistant S3, Company Commander 505 PIR, 82d Airborne
- Detachment Commander, 10th Special Forces Group (ABN)
- Deployed to Iraq for Gulf War
- J3, Special Plans, SOCEUR, Stuttgart, Germany
- J5, Special Projects, SOCCENT, MacDill AFB, FL
- Senior Counterdrug Officer, J5 USSOCOM, MacDill AFB, FL
- NATO G-2, Pristina, Kosovo
- J2X/J3X Counter Terrorism Officer, USSOCOM, MacDill AFB, FL
- Multiple combat tours in the Balkans, Afghanistan and Iraq
- A Sqn Commander, Joint Support Activity (JSA)
- Deputy Commander, JSA
Defense Contracting Experience
As a businessman and defense contractor, Lt. Col. Williamson led several businesses in the private sector. With more than 30 years of successful executive management, crisis management and business development, he is recognized as an international leadership and management expert.
Lt. Col. Williamson has experience in reality-based strategic planning and execution, solution-oriented problem solving, diplomacy, security consulting, and program implementation in corporate and government sectors.
Education
Lt. Col. Williamson earned a Bachelor of Science in Political Science from the University of Delaware and a Master of Government Contracting from George Washington University. He is also a U.S. Army Command and General Staff College graduate.
