Lieutenant General James W. Bierman

47th Commandant of the Corps of Cadets

Lieutenant General James W. Bierman was born in Camp Lejeune and commissioned into the Marine Corps from the Virginia Military Institute in 1987.

As a company grade officer, Lieutenant General Bierman served as both an infantry officer and intelligence officer. His assignments included command of Charlie Company 1st Battalion, 1st Marines. He participated in Operation Earnest Will in the Persian Gulf, Operation Provide Comfort in Northern Iraq, and Operation Restore Hope in Mogadishu, Somalia. 

As a field grade officer, he served as an infantry battalion operations officer, a recruiting station commander, and as a planner during multiple tours in Iraq. As the Commanding Officer of 1st Battalion, 3d Marines, he led the battalion in combat in Afghanistan and Iraq. As a senior field grade officer, he commanded 3d Marines and served as the Military Secretary to the Commandant. 

As a General Officer, Lieutenant General Bierman commanded Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego and the Western Recruiting Region, Marine Corps Recruiting Command, 3d Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, and Marine Forces Japan. His General Officer Staff assignments included Deputy Director for Political-Military Affairs for the Middle East, Strategic Plans and Policy on the Joint Staff J-5 and Deputy Commandant for Plans, Policies and Operations. 

Lieutenant General Bierman retired in July of 2025. Shortly thereafter he assumed duties as the 47th Commandant of the Corps of Cadets at Texas A&M University. Lieutenant General Bierman is married to the former Beth Lynne Cantu of Falls Church, Virginia. They have five children and one granddaughter.