James FischerJROTC
Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) James Fischer grew up in Jefferson, WI. He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in Air Defense Artillery as a Distinguished Military Graduate of the Army ROTC at Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI. He holds Bachelor of Arts Degrees in History and German from Marquette as well as a Doctor of Philosophy in History from the Ohio State University. His military education includes Airborne School, the Air Defense Officer Basic Course, the Air Defense Officer Advance Course with honors, Ranger School, the Combined Arms and Services Staff School, and the Command and General Staff College (CGSC).
LTC Fischer’s initial assignment was to the 1st Battalion, 3rd Air Defense Regiment, 4th Infantry Division at Fort Carson, CO where he served as a Vulcan Platoon Leader, Stinger Scout Platoon Leader, and Battery Executive Officer (XO). His was then assigned to 5th Battalion, 3rd Air Defense Regiment, 1st Armored Division, Germany where he was Assistant Operations Officer before taking command of Charlie Battery. He later commanded the battalion’s Headquarters Battery which he deployed in 1996 to Tuzla, Bosnia-Herzegovina as part of the Implementation Force (IFOR) for the Dayton Peace Accords. Upon completion of Advanced Civil Schooling in Ohio, he taught History at the United States Military Academy, West Point, NY.
In 2002, he completed CGSC at Fort Leavenworth, KS before joining the 4th Battalion, 5th Air Defense Regiment, First Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, TX. While with the First Team, he was the Operations Officer for the battalion’s mission to defend Washington, DC from airborne terrorist attack as part of Operation Noble Eagle and then was the Battalion Executive Officer for his unit’s deployment to Baghdad during Operation Iraqi Freedom II. LTC Fischer served as the First Cavalry Division Air Defense Officer prior to assuming duties as the Professor of Military Science for St. John’s University, the College of St. Benedict, and St. Cloud State University in June 2006. He retired from active duty in 2010 after more than 22 years of service and joined the Junior ROTC Program at Cretin-Derham Hall High School.
Among his awards and decorations are the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star, the Meritorious Service Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the Joint Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the Armed Forces Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, and the Army Physical Fitness Badge.
Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Fischer is married and has four children. | 