Civil Affairs Planner, United States Army Pacific

Lieutenant Colonel James Rivenbark is assigned to the U.S. Army Pacific Command’s Army Reserve Engagement Cell as the Civil Affairs Planner. He provides subject matter expertise to inform U.S. Army Pacific Command of relevant Army Reserve Civil Affairs capabilities and assets related to U.S. Pacific Command and U.S. Army Pacific exercise development and crisis and contingency planning operations.

His previous assignments include: Chief of Plans and Operations of the 354th Civil Affairs Brigade; Headquarters Company Commander, 351st Civil Affairs Command; Chief of Plans and Operations of the 489th Civil Affairs Battalion; Civil Affairs Team Leader with the 489th Civil Affairs Battalion (Operation Iraqi Freedom); Company Executive Officer, 60th Ordnance Company, and Scout Platoon Leader in 2nd Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment at Ft. Carson, CO.

He received his commission as an Armor Officer from the Reserve Officer Training Corps at Middle Tennessee State University in 1999. He is a graduate of the Armor Officer Basic Course, Scout Platoon Leader Course, the Ordnance Captain’s Career Course, the Civil Affairs Qualification Course, Command and General Staff College, and the Army Security Cooperation Planner’s Course.

Lieutenant Colonel Rivenbark holds a Bachelor of Science in Political Science from Middle Tennessee State University, and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Phoenix. His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal (two Oak Leaf Clusters), the Army Commendation Medal (three Oak Leaf Clusters), the Army Achievement Medal, and the Combat Action Badge.