Colonel James R. Graves entered active duty in 1954 at Fort Benning, Georgia as a Second Lieutenant. Throughout an outstanding military career, Colonel Graves distinguished himself as an outstanding Quartermaster Officer in a wide variety of challenging and critical assignment both in the United States and overseas. 

Colonel Graves received a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Henderson State University. His military education includes the Basic Infantry Officer’s Course, Basic Airborne Course, Quartermaster Officer’s Course, Commodities, Quartermaster Officer Associate Advanced Course, Army Command and General Staff College, Army War College, Military Assistance Orientation Course, Military Comptrollership Course, National Security management Course. 

Colonel Graves served in a variety of career progressive assignments that include; Deputy Director, Transportation, Energy and Troop Support, Headquarters, Department of the Army; Commander, Quartermaster Brigade, Fort Lee, Virginia; Assistant to the Director for Materiel Management for Major End Items Programs, Fuels and Energy Branch, Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; Commander, 530^th Supply and Service Battalion, 18^th Airborne Corps, Fort Bragg, North Carolina; Chief of Policy and Procedures Branch, Headquarters US Army Vietnam, Commander, 7^th US Army Quartermaster Direct support Company, Seckenheim, Germany. 

Colonel Graves is authorized to wear the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal (with two Oak Leaf Clusters), Army Commendation Medal (with two Oak Leaf Clusters), the Vietnam Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry (with Palm), Republic of Vietnam Campaign, Overseas Service Bars, Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge, Army General Staff Badge, Senior Parachutist Badge. 

Colonel Graves is a Distinguished Member of the Quartermaster Corps.