The American Legion Department of California made its endorsement for national commander during its annual convention in Visalia, Calif., on Sunday, June 26. A resolution to back outgoing California Department Commander Autrey James for the highest position in The American Legion was passed by the voting body, making him the official candidate from California.
2014 National American Legion College graduate Autrey B. James with National Commander Michael D. Helm, National Adjutant Daniel S. Wheeler, and Past National Commander Butch Miller at The National Headquarters of The American Legion in Indianapolis, Indiana on Friday, October 31, 2014. Photo by Lucas Carter.
About Autrey James
Autrey B James Jr. earned his eligibility for membership in The American Legion through honorable service as a member of the United States Coast Guard and United States Coast Guard Reserve from August 1990 until August 2000. He served with honor in the Coast Guard as a Law Enforcement Boarding Officer working in the area of commercial vessel inspections, vessel safety compliance and search and rescue. He served during the Gulf War as part of a Port Security Force responsible for the safety and security of four high endurance cutters and U.S. Coast Guard Island Base Alameda
James also worked for 24 years as a police officer, retiring as a police sergeant after working patrol division, investigation assignments in sexual assault unit, crimes against children unit, gang unit, vice-narcotics units, and the homicide unit. James held ancillary assignments as a crisis negotiator, supervisor of the crisis negotiation team, regional trainer in crisis negotiations, forensic interview specialist.
While working as a police sergeant, James began and completed law school at an ABA approved law school in California. He has been admitted to practice law in the State Bar of California, The United States District Court, Northern District of California, The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. James worked 17 years as an assistant deputy prosecutor, trying numerous criminal cases from simple theft to special circumstances homicide cases, and was assigned to make all felony plea offers in the northern portion of Alameda County, California.
James is a 17 year paid-up-for-life member of Harding-Noia American Legion Post 161 in the Department of California. He has served The American Legion with distinction in the following positions, post commander, post adjutant, district commander, department judge advocate, department training commission chair, and department commander. After returning from National Legion College in 2014, Autrey developed — funded through donations — and implemented The first Legion College in the Department of California. James has served as a member of the National Americanism Council, National Finance Commission, National American Legion Charities, assigned to assist National Commander Oxford’s committee investigating a Department within the American Legion, National Commander Dillard’s committee to study Membership Processing during the 2022-23 Year, and serves as The American Legion representative on the Veterans, and Families Task Force advising the Presidential Commission preparing for the celebration of America’s 250th Birthday in 2026.
James continues working with other local Veterans organizations in his community to develop and implement a Veterans stand down, developing a Veterans park in the local community, renaming streets for local veterans from the community. James has through his many years of experience, dedication and hard work, has served as a loyal and respected legionnaire and has demonstrated that he has the qualifications most needed in a leader such as national commander.
Author: caLegion Contributor
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