Major General James (Jay) Bartholomees was commissioned as an Infantry Officer from the United States Military Academy in 1995. He graduated from the Infantry Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, Command and General Staff College, and US Army War College.
Before assuming duties as the Chief of Staff of USARPAC, Major General Bartholomees served as the G3 of USARPAC and the Executive Officer to the Director of the Army Staff. Colonel Bartholomees commanded the 173rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne) in Europe, the 2d Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment at Joint Base Lewis-McChord as well as the 2nd Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division in Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. His previous field grade assignments include Operations Officer, Executive Officer, and Deputy Commander, 75th Ranger Regiment, as well as Liaison Officer and Executive Officer, 2d Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment. His previous company grade assignments include Company Command and Staff in 3rd Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division, as well as 3d Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment. He began his Army career as a Platoon Leader in the 82nd Airborne Division and Platoon Leader in 2d Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment.
Major General Bartholomees peacekeeping deployments include Haiti with the 82nd Airborne Division in 1996 and Bosnia-Herzegovina with the 3rd Infantry Division in 2000 – 2001. He deployed several times to Iraq, including the initial assault with 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment in 2003, and multiple deployments in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan from 2004 to 2016.
Major General Bartholomees is married, and they have four children.