Captain James R. Imlah
Deputy Commander, Commander Task Force SEVEN TWO
Captain James R. Imlah of Newport, Oregon graduated from Northwest Nazarene University in Nampa, Idaho, where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology. He attended Officer Candidate School in 2000 and shortly thereafter earned his Naval Aviator Wings of Gold.
CAPT Imlah’s sea assignments include Patrol Squadron ONE (Whidbey Island, WA), USS JOHN C. STENNIS (Bremerton, WA), and Patrol Squadron FORTY (Whidbey Island, WA). He was the Commanding Officer of the “Golden Swordsmen” of Patrol Squadron FOUR SEVEN during the transition from the P-3C Orion to the P-8A Poseidon aircraft and a homeport change from Kaneohe Bay, HI to Whidbey Island, WA.
His shore assignments include two tours with Commander Task Force SIX SEVEN (Sigonella, Italy), and a tour with USNORTHCOM (Colorado Springs, CO).
His flight qualifications include both P-3C Orion and P-8A Poseidon Patrol Plane Commander, Mission Commander, Instructor Pilot, Instructor Under Training Instructor, and Weapons Tactics Instructor. He has amassed over 2200 flight hours, including multiple combat sorties in the opening days of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM, and has completed six deployments to FIFTH and SEVENTH Fleet.
He is currently serving as Deputy Commander, Task Force SEVEN TWO in Misawa, Japan.
His awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (two awards), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (three awards), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (two awards), and various other campaign, service, and unit awards.