GEN James Lindsay

About James J. Lindsay

General Lindsay is president of the Airborne and Special Operations Museum Foundation, and a senior observer with the Army’s Battle Command Training Program. He served for 38 years in the military prior to his 1990 retirement.

Lindsay’s command assignments range from Platoon through MACOM in peacetime and war. His early assignments were with the 82nd Airborne Division and 77th Special Forces Group. He held eight different positions in the 82nd Airborne from platoon through division level. In Vietnam, he served with the Vietnamese Airborne Brigade, commanded the 2nd Battalion 60th Infantry, 9th Infantry Division, and was the G3, 9th Infantry Division.

As a general officer, Lindsay commanded the 82nd Airborne Division, the Infantry School and the XVIII Airborne Corps. He also served as Commander in Chief, United States Readiness Command and was the first Commander in Chief, United States Special Operations Command.

Lindsay’s awards and decorations include the Distinguished Service Cross; Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star (with four Oak Leaf Clusters); Legion of Merit; and Bronze Star with “V” device (with three Oak Leaf Clusters); Combat Infantryman’s Badge; Master Parachutist Badge; Ranger Tab; and Special Forces Tab.

Currently, General Lindsay is a member of the United States Army Ranger Hall of Fame and the Officer Candidate School Hall of Fame. He was also the 1996 recipient of the Infantry’s Doughboy Award, and the 1998 recipient of the United States Special Operations Command Bull Simon Award.

He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Nebraska (Omaha) and a Master of Science degree in foreign affairs from George Washington University. Lindsay’s military education includes the Infantry Officer Advanced Course, the United States Marine Corps Command and Staff College, and the National War College.