Colonel James Babbitt is a graduate of Davenport University where he received a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration. He was a graduate of the Michigan Military Academy and commissioned as an Infantry Second Lieutenant in 1996.
His first assignment was with 1st Battalion 126th Infantry Regiment of the Michigan Army National Guard where he served as a Rifle Platoon Leader. Following his assignment, Col. Babbitt served in 1st Battalion 126th Armor as a Platoon Leader and Scout Platoon Leader. Col. Babbitt’s following assignment was Commander C Company, 2nd Battalion 151st Infantry Regiment of the Indiana Army National Guard. During this assignment he participated in the 76th Infantry Brigade deployment to Afghanistan as an Embedded Trainer.
Following deployment in 2005, he was assigned as an Assistant S3 in 1st Battalion 293rd Infantry out of Fort Wayne, Ind. In 2008, he deployed with 1st Battalion 293rd Infantry during Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) to Joint Base Balad, Iraq. Promoted to Major during the deployment, he assumed duties as the Battalion Operations Officer. In 2010, Major Babbitt was assigned as the Assistant S3 for 76th Infantry Brigade Combat Team. In 2012 Major Babbitt was assigned to 38th Infantry Division, where he served as Future Operations Officer and Liaison Officer participating in multiple Division War Fighter exercises and promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in 2014.
In 2015, Col. Babbitt was assigned as the Officer In Charge of a Division Headquarters element deployed to Joint Task Force Guantanamo Bay, where he served as the Deputy Operations Officer. Upon return from deployment, Col. Babbitt assumed the position of Division Liaison Officer and deployed with the 38th Infantry Division element to Texas in support of Hurricane Harvey relief efforts. Upon his return, Col. Babbitt was selected as Commander, 2nd Battalion 151st Infantry Regiment in 2018. During this assignment, Col. Babbitt was activated by the Indiana Army National Guard to serve as the District 2 Commander in support of Indiana COVID relief efforts.
In 2020, Col. Babbitt was selected to serve as the Professor of Military Science at Ball State University. As the Professor of Military Science, he was responsible for the planning and execution of the Army ROTC program.
Col. Babbitt’s awards and decorations include: the Bronze Star, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (2 Oak Leaf Clusters), Army Commendation Medal (4 Oak Leaf Clusters), the Army Achievement Medal (2 Oak Leaf Clusters), the Combat Infantryman’s Badge, the Expert Infantryman’s Badge, Air Assault Badge and Pathfinder Badge.
