Governor Bentley Recognizes Colonel Hawkins as Distinguished Graduate of U.S. Army War College

MONTGOMERY (Governor’s Office) – Governor Robert Bentley is proud to announce the accomplishments made by the Director of Military Support for the Alabama Army National Guard, Colonel Jim Hawkins. Last month, Col. Hawkins graduated from the U.S. Army War College and received the honor as a distinguished graduate.

The U.S. Army War College focuses on strategic leadership in the joint military and interagency environment. Col. Hawkins stood out in the graduating class as one of the 73 distinguished graduates from a class of 365 students from around the world and other military components. He is also the first Alabama National Guard member to earn the distinguished graduate honor, since the graduate program started a few years ago.

“I admire Col. Hawkins’ commitment to serve our great state, and I want to congratulate him for being recognized at his graduation from the U. S. Army War College as a Distinguished Graduate,” Governor Bentley said. “This is a remarkable achievement and our state and country both need the professionalism, diligence and readiness to serve that Col. Hawkins exhibits daily.”

Col. Hawkins is involved in planning operations, conducting exercises, and responding to emergency domestic events for the Alabama National Guard and State of Alabama.

“We are truly proud of his accomplishments and very fortunate to have this caliber of an officer among our ranks,” Alabama National Guard Major General Perry G. Smith said. “Hawkins is well-known across the nation as a subject matter expert in emergency response operations and is a regular guest instructor at the United States Northern Command, Joint Task Force Commander Course in Colorado.”

“I was honored to be selected to attend the Army War College,” Col. Hawkins said. “As the Director of Military Support, my duties cross service and component lines. We routinely work with our interagency partners like the Alabama Emergency Management Agency, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency and others. Competencies honed at the Army War College will pay benefits across these relationships. In the end it is all about teamwork.”

Col. Hawkins graduated from the U.S. Army War College on July 22, 2016.

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