Brigadier General James H. Mason was commissioned into the Army in 1986. He began his military service at Fort Huachuca, AZ, where he served as a Platoon Leader, Company Executive Officer, Chief of Plans, Training, Mobilization and Security and Medical Company Commander. He next served as Forward Support Medical Company Commander at Camp Hovey, Korea, in the 2nd Infantry Division. His last active duty assignment prior to joining the U.S. Army Reserve was as an instructor at the Army Medical Department (AMEDD) Center & School teaching the Officer Basic and Captain’s Career Courses. After leaving his hometown of Tupelo, MS, Mason graduated from Furman University in Greenville, SC, where he was the General George C. Marshall Award Winner. He completed graduate degrees at the University of Arizona, Mississippi College and the U.S. Army War College. BG Mason’s military education includes the Military Intelligence Officer Basic Course, AMEDD Officer Advanced Course, Combined Arms Services Staff School (CAS3), Command and General Staff College (CGSC) and the U.S. Army War College.
BG Mason continued his military service in the U.S. Army Reserve where his assignments included: Plans & Training Officer, AMEDD Center & School, Medical Team OIC and later Operations Officer, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Brigade (Field Exercise), 87th Division (Exercise), Camp Shelby, MS; Chief, Medical Plans & Intelligence Branch, Surgeon’s Office, Pacific Command, Camp Smith, HI; S3 and later Executive Officer, 5th Brigade (Health Services), 100th Division (Institutional Training), Millington, TN; and Force Development Officer, Office of the Surgeon General (OTSG), Falls Church, VA. Mason completed a one year mobilization tour with OTSG in the Health Care Operations Directorate prior to taking command of the 4010th U.S. Army Hospital in New Orleans, LA, where he served from 2007-2009. Following this assignment, BG Mason commanded the 5th Medical Group in Birmingham, AL, which he led in the unit’s transformation to a Medical Brigade prior to joining the 807th Medical Command (Deployment Support) in 2011.
His awards and decorations include: Meritorious Service Medal (with two Oak Leaf Clusters), Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal (with two Oak Leaf Clusters), Joint Service Achievement Medal, Army Achievement Medal (with three Oak Leaf Clusters), National Defense Service Medal (with one Bronze Service Star), Korea Defense Service Medal, Expert Field Medical Badge, Army Staff Badge and the Parachutist Badge. He is also a member of the Order of Military Medical Merit.
He is married to Erin Clark Mason, and they have two sons, Luke and Noah. They live in Flora, Mississippi where he retired as the Associate State Superintendent and State Assessment Director for the Mississippi Department of Education.