Brig. Gen. James Paul Sanders was selected as Deputy Commanding General, U.S. Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command (Airborne) after his successful assignment as Commander, 352d CACOM on August 20, 2021. Sanders was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Army Corps of Engineers after graduating from the Kentucky Military Academy (OCS) in 1993. His assignments included Platoon Leader, 201st Engineer Battalion; HHD Commander, 373rd Quartermaster Battalion (PS); Company Commander, 475th Transportation Detachment; Bravo Company Commander, 412th Civil Affairs Battalion (SO)(A); Battalion Executive Officer, 412th Civil Affairs Battalion (A) (T); Chief of Operations (CHOPS), 84th Training Command; G-3, 84th Training Command; Battalion Commander, 412th Civil Affairs Battalion (A) (T); Civil Liaison Team Chief (AFRICOM and CENTCOM), 353d Civil Affairs Command; Brigade Commander, 2nd Brigade – 104th Training Division (LT); Deputy Division Commander, 104th Training Division (LT).
Sanders began his Army Reserve Career in 1990 after serving on active duty with the 9th Infantry Division, Ft. Lewis, Washington and later as a Military Policeman with the 438th Military Police Company during Operations Desert Shield/Storm. After receiving his commission in 1993, he served as a Platoon Leader for Charlie Company, 201st Engineer Battalion, Cynthiana, Kentucky. From May 1997-2001, Sanders was assigned to the 373rd QM BN (PS), Louisville, Kentucky, where he served as the HHC Commander, 475th TTP Commander, Battalion S-1, and Battalion S-4. From 2001-2003, he served as a Civil Affairs (CA) Team Leader while assigned to the 412th Civil Affairs Battalion (SO) (A), Columbus, Ohio. From 2003-2004, he deployed again as a Civil Affairs Team Leader while assigned to CJSOTF-Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Upon redeployment and return to reserve status, Sanders served as the Bravo Company Commander and Battalion Executive Officer, 412th Civil Affairs Battalion (SO) (A). In June 2011, he mobilized for his third combat tour, embedded in Diyala Province, Iraq, as the Brigade S-9 for the 2-25th Brigade Combat Team (BCT). Upon redeployment and return to reserve status, Sanders served as the Battalion XO, 412th Civil Affairs Battalion (A) (T), Columbus, Ohio. After leaving the 412th Civil Affairs Battalion (A) (T), he became Chief of Operations (CHOPS) and eventually the G-3 for the 84th Training Command, Fort Knox, Kentucky, where he was responsible for training and assessing the readiness of all Army Reserve units. From July 2015-2017, Sanders was assigned as Commander, 412th Civil Affairs Battalion (A) (T), Columbus, Ohio. After leaving the 412th Civil Affairs Battalion (A) (T) in July 2017, he was assigned as the Civil Liaison Team Chief (AFRICOM and CENTCOM) with the 353d Civil Affairs Command, Staten Island, New York. From April 2018 -2020, he served as Brigade Commander, 2nd Brigade – 104th Training Division (LT). After leaving Brigade Command he served as the Deputy Division Commander, 104th Training Division (LT), JBLM. On August 20th, 2021, he started his current assignment as Commander, 352d Civil Affairs Command, Fort Meade, MA.
Sanders education includes University of Louisville, Bachelors of Science in Finance; University of Louisville, Master of Business Administration (MBA). Military education includes the Engineer Basic Course; Civil Affairs Advance Course; Quartermaster Advance Course; United States Army Combined Arms Services Staff School; United States Army Command and General Staff College; Advanced Joint Professional Military Education II (AJPME) at the Joint Forces Staff College; and the United States Army War College where he received a Master’s Degree in Strategic Studies (July 2016).
Sanders' awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster, Meritorious Service Medal w/1 Silver Oak Leaf Cluster, Army Commendation Medal w/ Valor Device, Army Commendation Medal w/2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Achievement Medals w/ 1 Silver Oak Leaf Cluster, Army Good Conduct Medal, Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal w/ 2 Silver Oak Leaf Clusters, National Defense Service Medal w/ Bronze Service Star, Southwest Asia Service Medal w/2 Bronze Service Stars, Armed Forces Reserve Medal w/M-Device and 30 Year Hour-Glass, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon w/numeral 3, Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia), Kuwait Liberation Medal (Government of Kuwait), Iraq Campaign Medal w/ Bronze Service Star, Afghanistan Campaign Medal w/ Bronze Service Star, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal w/ Service Star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Overseas Training Ribbon, Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, Combat Action Badge, Master Parachutist Badge, Pathfinder Badge, Air Assault Badge, Australian Parachutist Badge, Canadian Parachutist Badge, Chilean Parachutist Badge and British Parachutist Badge.
Sanders resides in Prospect, Kentucky. In his civilian career, he is a Program Analyst for the Louisville Division DEA, Louisville, Kentucky.