James F. Amos

James Amos
Amos in October 2010
Nickname(s)	"Jim", "Tamer"
Born	(1946-11-12) November 12, 1946 (age 70) Wendell, Idaho, U.S.
Service/branch	United States Navy United States Marine Corps
Years of service	1970–1972 (US Navy) 1972–2015 (US Marine Corps)
Rank	General
Commands held	Commandant of the Marine Corps Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps Marine Corps Combat Development Command II Marine Expeditionary Force 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing Marine Aircraft Group 31 VMFA-312
Battles/wars	Iraq War Afghanistan War
Awards	Defense Distinguished Service Medal Navy Distinguished Service Medal (2) Defense Superior Service Medal Legion of Merit (2) Bronze Star Medal

James F. "Jim" Amos (born November 12, 1946) 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 2004. He served as the 31st Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps. He is the first Marine Corps aviator to serve as commandant.

The son of a career Navy pilot, Amos, who was born on November 12, 1946, in Wendell, Idaho, graduated from the University of Idaho in 1970 with a Bachelor of Science degree in finance and economics and commissioned as an Ensign in the United States Navy through NROTC on January 23, 1970. He attended Navy pilot training in Pensacola, Florida, and was designated a Naval Aviator on November 23, 1971. He was promoted to Lieutenant Junior Grade in December 1971, and subsequently was granted an inter-service transfer to the Marine Corps in 1972.

Joining Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 212 (VMFA-212) in the spring of 1972, his ensuing operational assignments included tours with VMFA-235, VMFA-232, and VMFA-122 where he flew the F-4 Phantom II. In the fall of 1978 Amos left the active Marine Corps to become a commercial pilot for Braniff International Airways. He was employed with Braniff for 25 months, returning to the Marine Corps in January 1981.