Director
National Imagery and Mapping Agency 
March 1998–September 2001 

Lt. Gen. James C. King, U.S. Army, was appointed as the second director of the National Imagery and Mapping Agency in March 1998.

Prior to his appointment, LTG King’s military assignments included tours in the continental United States, Japan, and Europe and a combat tour in Vietnam. Between 1990 and 1992, LTG King served as commander, 66th Military Intelligence Brigade, U.S. Army Europe. In the latter half of 1992, he was executive officer to the deputy chief of staff for Intelligence, Headquarters, Department of the Army, Washington, DC. In January 1993 he became associate deputy director for Operations (Military Support), National Security Agency, Fort Meade, Maryland, a post that he held to August 1994. He then served on the Joint Staff as director of Intelligence, J-2, U.S. Central Command, MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, until February 1996. In February 1996 he became director for Intelligence, J-2, Joint Staff at the Pentagon, where he served for two years. 

LTG King received a bachelor’s degree in political science from Utah State University and entered the U.S. Army as a distinguished military graduate through the Reserve Officer Training Corps program. He holds a Master of Science in public administration from the University of Missouri at Kansas City. He completed the Signal Officer Basic Course, the Military Intelligence Officer Advanced Course, the Army Command and General Staff College, and the Army War College. 

LTG King’s awards and decorations include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, Legion of Merit with three oak leaf clusters, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Joint Service Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster, Army Commendation Medal, Joint Staff Identification Badge, Army Staff Identification Badge, and foreign awards.

LTG King was inducted into the GEOINT Hall of Fame in 2005.