Lt. Commander James Foster enlisted in the U.S. Navy in October 1992 from Santa Barbara County, California. He attended basic training in Orlando, Florida and rose to the rank of Chief Petty Officer before he earned his commission. His enlisted assignments include Marine Cadre, Naval Air Station North Island, CA; Operation DEEP FREEZE, Antarctic Development Squadron SIX (VXE-6), Point Mugu, CA; Navy Recruiting District Los Angeles, CA; and Strike Fighter Squadron NINE SEVEN (VFA-97), Naval Air Station Lemoore, CA.
LCDR Foster was commissioned in January 2004. He served his first officer tour with Naval Mobile Construction Battalion FOUR ZERO (NMCB 40), homeported in Port Hueneme, CA, where he served as the Force Protection Officer, Intelligence Officer, Administration Officer, and Legal Officer. In December 2004, he deployed to Okinawa, Japan, where NMCB 40 further deployed with III Marine Expeditionary Force (III MEF) as part of a U.S. disaster relief effort following the devastating tsunamis that impacted Thailand and Indonesia. In March 2006, he deployed with I MEF [Forward], where he led Security Forces engaged in combat operations across Iraq.
In June 2007, LCDR Foster was assigned as the Force Protection Director of Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach, CA, where he led Security Forces on six military installations, conducting intelligence and antiterrorism operations with multiple agencies throughout the state. During this tour, he also led the operation of two small-arms ranges for the training and support of military personnel and 26 federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies; and served as a voting member of the Harbor Security and Safety Committees for the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.
In June 2010, LCDR Foster was selected for duty in the Defense Attaché Service and reported to Headquarters, Defense Intelligence Agency, Washington, D.C. Following his training, LCDR Foster was assigned to the U.S. Defense Attaché Office at the U.S. Embassy, The Hague, The Netherlands, where he served as the Operations Coordinator, Security Officer, Assistant Naval Attaché, and as a member of the U.S. Embassy’s Law Enforcement Working Group
In October 2014, LCDR Foster was ordered to the Naval Undersea Warfare Center, Detachment Atlantic Undersea Test and Evaluation Center (AUTEC) Security Detachment, where he served as the Officer-in-Charge/Law Enforcement/Security Officer, and as the installation’s Antiterrorism Officer.
In November 2016, LCDR Foster reported to Marine Corps Security Force Battalion Kings Bay, GA, where he currently serves as the Executive Officer and Senior Naval Officer.
LCDR Foster is a qualified Fleet Marine Force Warfare Officer and Seabee Combat Warfare Officer. His personal awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (four awards), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (six awards), and the U.S. Department of State Meritorious Honor Award. He is a graduate of the Joint Military Attaché School and the Defense Language Institute (Dutch). LCDR Foster enjoys spending time at home with his wife, Debbie and their five dogs.