James F. "Jim" Amos is a retired United States Marine Corps four-star general who served as the 35th commandant of the Marine Corps. As a naval aviator, Amos commanded the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing during the Iraq War in 2003 and 2006. He served as the 31st assistant commandant of the Marine Corps from 2008 to 2010, and was the first Marine Corps aviator to serve as commandant. He retired from the Marine Corps in December 2014.
Amos in October 2010
Lt. Gen. Amos enjoys a laugh with Gen. James T. Conway as he is pinned a four-star general by his wife, Bonnie, daughter, Jaymie and son, Joshua, during a promotion ceremony at Marine Barracks Washington July 2, 2008.
Amos exchanges the Battle Colors of the Marine Corps with incoming Commandant General Joseph Dunford on October 17, 2014
Commandant of the United States Marine Corps
The commandant of the Marine Corps (CMC) is normally the highest-ranking officer in the United States Marine Corps. It is a four-star general position and a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The CMC reports directly to the secretary of the Navy and is responsible for ensuring the organization, policy, plans, and programs for the Marine Corps as well as advising the president, the secretary of defense, the National Security Council, the Homeland Security Council, and the secretary of the Navy on matters involving the Marine Corps. Under the authority of the secretary of the Navy, the CMC designates Marine personnel and resources to the commanders of unified combatant commands. The commandant performs all other functions prescribed in Section 8043 in Title 10 of the United States Code or delegates those duties and responsibilities to other officers in his administration in his name. As with the other joint chiefs, the commandant is an administrative position and has no operational command authority over United States Marine Corps forces.
Commandant of the United States Marine Corps
Image: Portrait of First Leader of Marines, Maj. Samuel Nicholas
Image: William W. Burrows
Image: Franklin Wharton