James E. Rainey | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait, 2022 | |
| Born | 1964 or 1965 (age 60–61)[1] Brockton, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch | United States Army |
| Service years | 1987–2025 |
| Rank | General |
| Commands |
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| Conflicts | |
| Awards | |
James E. Rainey (born 1964 or 1965) is a former United States Army general who last served as the commanding general of United States Army Futures Command from 2022 to 2025. He previously served as Deputy Chief of Staff of the Army for Operations, Plans, and Training (G-3/5/7) from 2021 to 2022. Before that, he served concurrently as commanding general of the United States Army Combined Arms Center, commandant of the United States Army Command and General Staff College and commanding general of Fort Leavenworth, from 2019 to 2021. Prior to that, he commanded the Combined Security Transition Command – Afghanistan from 2018 to 2019.
Early life and education
[edit]Rainey was born in Brockton, Massachusetts but grew up in Akron, Ohio.[2]: 109 He attended Eastern Kentucky University on a swimming scholarship, graduating in 1987.[3] He holds master's degrees from the United States Army Command and General Staff College (School of Advanced Military Studies) and Troy University.[4]
Army career
[edit]Rainey was commissioned as an infantry officer through ROTC at Eastern Kentucky University in 1987. As a lieutenant, he served as a platoon leader and company executive officer in the 3rd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division and later as a rifle platoon leader and company executive officer in the 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment.[5]
Following the Infantry Advanced Course, he commanded the Long Range Surveillance Detachment in the 1st Cavalry Division and Hotel Company, 3rd U.S. Infantry (The Old Guard). Rainey was then assigned as a Joint Chiefs of Staff intern in Washington, D.C. His next assignments included: chief of plans for the 2nd Infantry Division; operations officer for 1st Battalion, 9th Cavalry; and executive officer to the III Corps commander.[5]
During Operation Iraqi Freedom I, he was a G3 operations officer in the V Corps assault command post. Following that, he was the executive officer of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, and then he commanded Task Force 2-7 CAV during Operation Iraqi Freedom II. Following battalion command, Rainey served as the chief of war on terror plans for U.S. European Command. He next served as the G3 of the 4th Infantry Division and the Multi-National Division-Baghdad (MND-B), and commanded the 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team (HBCT), 4th Infantry Division at Fort Carson and in Iraq. Following command, he served as the U.S. Army Fellow at the Korbel School of International Relations, Denver University.[5]
Rainey became the deputy commanding general (maneuver) of the 4th Infantry Division in July 2013, and was promoted to brigadier general on 2 August 2013. From July 2014 to July 2015, he served as the commandant of the United States Army Infantry School. He was then the commanding general of the 3rd Infantry Division until May 2017, and was promoted to major general on 2 May 2016. From June 2017 to August 2018, Rainey was the Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff of the United States Army. He became the commander of the Combined Security Transition Command – Afghanistan in October 2018, and in the same month was promoted to lieutenant general. He was the commanding general of the United States Army Combined Arms Center and Commandant of the United States Army Command and General Staff College from December 2019 to May 2021.[6][7][8]
From June 2021 to October 2022, Rainey was the Deputy Chief of Staff of the Army for Operations, Plans, and Training (G-3/5/7), in Washington, D.C.[6][9] On 6 September 2022, Rainey was nominated for promotion to general[10] and assigned as commanding general of the United States Army Futures Command.[11][12] His nomination was confirmed by voice vote of the Senate on 29 September 2022.[10] Rainey was promoted on 4 October 2022 and took up his post as commander of Army Futures Command.[6] He retired on 1 October 2025, when Futures Command was merged with the Training and Doctrine Command to form the new United States Army Transformation and Training Command.[13]
Personal life
[edit]He met his wife Tracy while they were at Eastern Kentucky University, and they have been married since 1988.[3] They have two daughters, two sons-in-law, and a grandson.[4]
Awards and decorations
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References
[edit]- ^ Coleman, Dash (8 August 2015). "New 3rd ID commander 'honored' to lead Dog-faced Soldiers". Savannah Morning News.
- ^ Matthews, Matt M. (2006). "Lieutenant Colonel James Rainey (19 Apr 2006)". In Gott, Kendall D. (ed.). Eyewitness to War, Volume 1: U S Army in Operation AL FAJR: An Oral History. Fort Leavenworth, Kansas: Combat Studies Institute Press.
- ^ a b Russell, Elise (20 September 2023). "Gen. Rainey's Four-Star Formula". www.eku.edu. Eastern Kentucky University. Retrieved 23 November 2025.
- ^ a b "General James E. Rainey". Association of the United States Army. Retrieved 23 November 2025.
- ^ a b c "Brig. Gen. James Rainey". www.carson.army.mil. Archived from the original on 19 July 2013. Retrieved 23 November 2025.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ a b c "Lieutenant General James E. Rainey - General Officer Management Office". www.gomo.army.mil. Archived from the original on 7 April 2024. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
- ^ "Lieutenant General James E.Rainey" (PDF). United States Army Combined Arms Center. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 November 2020.
- ^ Swart-Entwistle, Tisha (17 December 2019). "Rainey takes command of Combined Arms Center and Fort Leavenworth". United States Army. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
- ^ "General Officer Assignments". U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE. Archived from the original on 3 September 2021. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
- ^ a b "PN2510 — Lt. Gen. James E. Rainey — Army". United States Congress. 29 September 2022. Retrieved 30 September 2022.
- ^ Beinart, Matthew (7 September 2022). "After Nine Months, Army Nominates New Leader For Futures Command". Defense Daily. Retrieved 7 September 2022.
- ^ Judson, Jen (7 September 2022). "US Army nominates new Futures Command chief". Military Times. Retrieved 7 September 2022.
- ^ Mitchell, Billy (26 September 2025). "One thing Gen. Rainey says he left unaccomplished as he retires". DefenseScoop. Retrieved 24 November 2025.
External links
[edit]
Media related to James E. Rainey at Wikimedia Commons