Colonel James Sikes, Jr., is an infantry officer currently serving as the United States Army Military Fellow at the Council of Foreign Relations for 2000-2001. In this capacity he has conducted extensive research for the Council's Task Force on State Department Reform, whose report was published in January 2001. He has previously served as the Assistant Deputy Director for Middle East and Asia-Pacific Strategy in the Policy and Plans Directorate of the Joint Staff.
Colonel Sikes commanded the 2nd Battalion, 87th Infantry during Operation Hurricane Andrew Relief and Operation Restore Hope in Somalia, and subsequently commanded the 3rd Brigade of the 25th Infantry Division. He has been awarded the Legion of Merit as well as numerous other Army, Air Force, and Joint decorations.
He holds a B.S. in business administration from The Citadel and a M.A. in Business Management from Webster University, and has served as an Assistant Professor of Military Art and Science at Norwich University.