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Jefferson County Assistant District Attorney Luke Nichols, Col. James C. Howell, and Jordan Faulk gather at the Change of Command ceremony at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson.
Jefferson County Assistant District Attorney Luke Nichols, Col. James C. Howell, and Jordan Faulk gather at the Change of Command ceremony at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson.
The 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team of the United States Army 11th Airborne Division welcomed its new commander, Southeast Texas native Colonel James C. Howell, on June 21, at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, the only Arctic Airborne Brigade in the U.S. Army.
Col. Michael J. Shouse relinquished his position of command to Col. James C. Howell, a Nederland native and 1997 graduate of Monsignor Kelly Catholic High School in Beaumont.
Howell was commissioned as an infantry officer from West Point, the United States Military Academy, in 2002.
He is a graduate of the Infantry Officer Base and Advanced Courses, as well as the College of Naval Command and Staff.
Recently completing his U.S. Army War College Fellowship at Columbia University, Howell is also the busy father of five daughters and husband to Houston native Stephanie Steakley.
To date, Howell’s military career has included numerous notable assignments, including nine combat deployments to Iraq, Afghanistan, and Syria.
Howell served as Platoon Leader in 2-22 Infantry, 1st Brigade, 10th Mountain Division; Platoon Leader and Company Executive Officer in 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment; Company Commander in 1-26 Infantry, 3rd Brigade, 1st Infantry Division; Assistant Operations Officer for 75th Ranger Regiment; Company Commander in 1st Battalion, 74th Ranger Regiment; Battalion Operations Officer for 1-503 Infantry (Airborne), 173rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne); Brigade Operations Officer for the 173rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne); J5 Interagency Chief for the Joint Improvised-Threat Defeat Organization; Battalion Commander for 3-21 Infantry, 1st Stryker Brigade, 25th Infantry Division; and executive officer to the superintendent of the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York.
Howell’s awards and decorations include the Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Valorous Unit Award, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal with Valor Device, Combat Infantryman’s Badge, Ranger Tab, Senior Parachutis Badge and Air Assault Badge.