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Today's Featured Biography
Jim Sanny
LtCol James T. Sanny, Sr., USMC (Ret)
LtCol. Sanny was born in Roswell, New Mexico and educated in Nebraska. He graduated from the University of Nebraska at Omaha in December 1981, earning a Bachelor of General Studies Degree in Geography. In June 1995, he attended the Navy Command and Staff College in Newport, Rhode Island where he graduated with a Master of Arts Degree in National Security and Strategic Studies. He first joined the Marine Corps in January 1974 in the delayed Enlistment Program. In April of 1974 he attended Basic Enlisted Training at Parris Island, South Carolina. Upon graduation from Boot Camp he was promoted meritoriously to the rank of Private First Class. He later finished college and upon graduation in December 1981, attended Officer Candidates School in Quantico, Virginia. He was commissioned to the rank of Second Lieutenant in April of 1982 and then reported to The Basic School at Quantico, Virginia. In July 1982 he reported for Aviation Flight Training in Pensacola, Florida.
After completion of flight training, he was designated a Marine Aviator in July 1984. First Lieutenant Sanny then attended CH-46E Helicopter syllabus training at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Tustin, California, where he held the billet of Assistant Flightline Officer. In November 1984, he reported for duty with Helicopter Marine Medium Squadron 165 (HMM-165) in MCAS Kaneohe, Hawaii. During this three year tour, he served in various billets as the Assistant Flightline Officer and Flightline Officer in Charge, and squadron Logistics Officer. While there, he attended Mountain Warfare School and Winter Warfare Survival School at the Marine Corps Warfare Training Center at Bridgeport, California. He was awarded the Sierra Sam Award during Mountain Warfare School for distinction in Leadership during the course. He also achieved numerous flight leadership designations in HMM-165 the highest of which was Flight Leader. He then reported to Marine Aircraft Group (MAG) 24 and held the billet of Group Rotary Wing FRAG Officer. In June 1989, Captain Sanny was selected for Amphibious Warfare School in Quantico, Virginia. Upon graduation in May 1990, he was selected for duty at the Marine Corps Officer Candidates School in Quantico, Virginia, where he held the billet of Platoon Commander for two graduating classes of Officer Platoon Leaders Junior Candidates. There he ensured that only the best qualified candidates would return for the Senior course the following year. In August 1990, he was selected for duty with Special Operations unit Second ANGLICO (2nd Air and Naval Gunfire Liaison Company) at II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. While there he attended Tactical Forward Air Control Party School, Airborne Jump School, Naval Gunfire Spotter School, and Fire Support Coordination School. He held various Brigade billet assignments to include Supporting Arms Liaison Officer and Air Officer, which culminated in his selection to become Commander of the 1st Brigade. He was then assigned as the SRIG (Surveillance, Reconnaisance, and Intelligence Group) Detachment Officer in Charge to the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), Special Operations Capable (SOC), where he completed his third six month cruise deploying to Southwest Asia in Support of Operation Desert Shield. After the war, he helped establish the bilateral military working environments between the United States, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Oman, and United Arab Emirates.
After completing his 2nd ANGLICO tour in April 1992, Captain Sanny was transferred to HMM-264 at MCAS, New River, Jacksonville, North Carolina. There he held billet assignments as the Maintenance Quality Assurance Officer and Director of Safety and Standardization. He was selected to be the squadron student at the Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Course, Yuma, Arizona in August 1992 and earned the designation of a Marine Corps Aviation Weapons Tactics Instructor (WTI) and received the highest aviation flight leadership designation as Air Mission Commander. He graduated and returned to the squadron where he was designated as the Squadron WTI. As a WTI, he was selected for assignment as the WTI and Assistant Operations Officer to the Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force (SPMAGTF) in support of Operation Restore Democracy to prepare for follow-on combat operations in Haiti. After three months he returned and deployed with his squadron to the Haiti theatre of operations where he was selected as the lead Air Mission Commander for the air assault into Haiti. Upon return from amphibious operations in Haiti, Major Sanny was later transferred to MAG-24 to be the Assistant Operations Officer. In January of 1995 he was selected to attend Navy Command and Staff College in Newport, Rhode Island. Upon graduation, he was transferred to Joint Task Force Six, Fort Bliss, Texas, in support of Counter Drug Operations in the southwestern United States. There he worked with several civilian government counter drug agencies to interdict illegal drugs into the country and held various billets which culminated in becoming the Senior Plans Officer of the Plans Division, J-3 Directorate, in January of 1999.
His next tour in August 1999, found LtCol. Sanny serving with the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing in California. He held various billets as the Assistant and Current Operations Officer, and he served as the Deputy Operations Officer, G-3, until being transferred to MAG-16 in May, 2001. There he held the billet of Group Director of Safety and Standardization. He was then selected as the Commanding Officer for Personnel Support Detachment of the Group. In August 2002 he was selected for assignment at the Pentagon where served as the Executive Agent to the Secretary of Defense and to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. LtCol Sanny retired in Oct of 2004 after a 29 year career in the USMC, and has since held various billets as a contractor for the Department of Defense. He currently holds the billet of Director Anti-Terrorism and Force Protection for the Navy History and Heritage Command, Washington DC.
His personal awards included the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal, Good Conduct Medal, and various unit and campaign awards. LtCol. Sanny has five children, James Jr., Keri, Amy, Bret, Katie.
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