Lieutenant General James B. Wellons grew up in Victoria, Virginia; he graduated from the United States Naval Academy and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in May of 1992. He completed The Basic School in 1993, earned his wings as a naval aviator in 1995, and proceeded to AV-8B Harrier training at MCAS Cherry Point, NC. He completed multiple deployments at VMA-231, including operational experience with Marine Expeditionary Units in the European theater and Iraq. He also served tours as an AV-8B instructor pilot at VMAT-203 and Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One (MAWTS-1).
Lieutenant General Wellons commanded VMFAT-501, the first USMC F-35B squadron, from 2010-2012, and he commanded MAWTS-1 at MCAS Yuma, AZ from 2016-2018. He served as Assistant Wing Commander for 1st Marine Aircraft Wing in Okinawa, Japan from 2019-2020 and Deputy Commander, United States Forces Japan from 2020-2023. He most recently served as the Commanding General of 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing at MCAS Miramar, California from 2024-2026.
For his staff assignments, Lieutenant General Wellons was lead planner for U.S. Marine Forces Central Command, Executive Officer for the Combatant Commander U.S. Southern Command, and Branch Head for Aviation Programs and Weapons at Headquarters Marine Corps. He also served as Assistant Deputy Commandant for Programs, Programs and Resources Department, HQMC.
Lieutenant General Wellons graduated from the School of Advanced Air and Space Studies (SAASS), the U.S. Naval War College, and the Advanced Management Program (AMP) at Harvard Business School. He holds Masters Degrees from the Air University and the U.S. Naval War College, where he graduated with highest distinction. He has held qualifications in the AV-8B, F-35B, F-5E/F, and F-16C/D.