Brigadier General Jonathan J. McColumn, a native of Warner Robins, Georgia, graduated from Northside High School in 1982.
In 1984, he graduated from Georgia Military College and received a commission as a Second Lieutenant.
Upon completing Georgia College and State University (1986) with a Bachelor of Business Administration Degree, he entered the US Army.
During his 28 years of military service, he has served in multiple positions as a Logistician and in the Army Acquisition Corps.
His military education includes the Quartermaster Officer Basic Course, Combined Logistics Officer Advanced Course, Combined Arms Services and Staff School, Logistics Executive Development Course, Senior Manager Course in Strategic Studies and the Army War College.
He is a member of the Army Acquisition Corps, Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA), Level III Certified in Contracting/Procurement, and Level I Certified in Program Management.
He has completed Master Degrees in Business Administration, Education and Strategic Studies.
In addition, he attended the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.
His first assignment was a Platoon Leader in the 928th Maintenance Company, Light Equipment, General Support. Thereafter, he transferred to active duty as a Depot Storage Officer and Liaison Officer at Seneca Army Depot, Romulus, New York where he was promoted to Captain and awarded the General Douglas MacArthur Leadership Award.
After managing “go to war stocks” and providing supplies and equipment in support of OPERATION DESERT SHIELD/STORM, he was transferred to the US Army Reserve Command, Fort McPherson, Georgia to serve as a Logistics Staff Officer.
After 3 years, he was assigned to the 29th Support Group, Kaiserslautern, Germany as a Planner/Liaison Officer.
While there, he also served as the S-3 in the Equipment Maintenance Center-Europe, the 21st Theater Army Area Command as a Logistics Planner in support of OPERATION ALLIED FORCE, and a Logistics Planner and Contracting Officer Representative in support of an exercise in Thessaloniki, Greece.
Prior to departing Germany, he was promoted to Major.
Thereafter, he transferred to the Office of the Chief, Army Reserve, Pentagon, to serve as a Logistics Staff Officer and a Contracting Specialist in the Defense Contracting Command – Washington (Pentagon).
His next assignment was US Army Japan and the 374th Contracting Squadron, Yokota Air Base, Japan.
While there, he served in multiple roles to include the Chief, Contingency Contracting and Contract Management Officer in Japan, Philippines and Thailand in support of US engagement exercises to include Balikatan, Yama Sakura and Cobra Gold.
Prior to departing, he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel.
Thereafter, he was transferred to the US Army Reserve Command, Fort McPherson, Georgia to serve as the Director, Contract Administration Support Office.
While there, he also deployed in support of OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM as the Deputy Commander, 408th Contract Support Brigade.
After redeploying to Fort McPherson for a short while, he deployed in support of OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM, as the Chief Commodities, Joint Contracting Command Iraq/Afghanistan, supporting the Multi National Security Transition Command, Bagdad, Iraq. After redeploying to Fort McPherson, he was transferred to the US Army Acquisition Support Center, Fort Belvoir to serve as the Chief, Acquisition Management Office. Thereafter, he transferred to the Office of the Chief Army Reserve to serve as the Director, Contract Administration Support Office, where he was promoted to Colonel. In his follow-on assignment, he served as the Director, Reserve Operations, in the Mission and Installation Contracting Command, Joint Base Fort Sam Houston, Texas.
As of October 31, 2014, he was assigned to command of the 103rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command, Des Moines, Iowa.
Brig. Gen. McColumn’s awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Commendation Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Achievement Medal, Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal with 2 bronze stars, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with M device and 20 Year Silver Hour glass, Army Parachutist Badge, Army Air Assault Badge, and the Army Staff Identification Badge.
Brig. Gen. McColumn is also an ordained minister with service as an Interim Pastor, Mount Vernon First Baptist Church, Newnan, Georgia and Associate Minister and Minister of Music throughout the world.
While assigned in Japan, he co-founded the Good Shepherd Church.