Colonel James “Boomer” Henry (retired) was born March 1, 1957. Colonel Henry has a wide range of education, including, graduating from the University of Oklahoma in 1980 with a Journalism Degree in Public Relations, and then graduating from Officer Training School in February 1981. He attended Undergraduate Navigator Training at Mather Air Force Base, California, earning his wings in September of 1981. In 1988, he received his Master of Arts in Business Management from the Golden Gate University. In 1997, the Escuela Superior de Guerra Aerea (IDE) in Caracas, Venezuela and in 2003, the Inter-American Defense College in Washington DC.
Colonel Henry retired in September of 2007 at Lackland AFB, Texas as a Master Navigator with over 2,600 hours, primarily in the F-4E and the F15E, and has logged over 250 hours of combat time. Colonel Henry has also flown the T-37, T-43, AT-38 and the F-4D. Since joining the military in 1981, he has been stationed in 11 different stateside duty stations and 4 overseas duty stations. He is married to Kelly Henry and has three children, Kyle Henry, Danielle Henry and Gage Henry.
Colonel Henry has a list of Achievement Medals which include: the Legion of Merit Distinguished Flying Cross, Meritorious Service Medal (3 oak leaf clusters), Air Medal (3 oak leaf clusters), Aerial Achievement Medal (2 oak leaf clusters), Air Force Commendation Medal (1 oak leaf cluster), Air Force Achievement Medal, Combat Readiness Medal (1 oak leaf cluster), National Defense Service Medal (1 oak leaf cluster), Southwest Asia Service Medal (3 oak leaf clusters), Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Korean Defense Service Medal, Kuwait Liberation Medal Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Kuwait Liberation Medal Government of Kuwait.