Colonel Himes is a native of Norristown, Pennsylvania. He graduated from the Pennsylvania State University in 1993 and received his commission as a second lieutenant through ROTC.
He has served in leadership positions and units ranging from the tactical to the strategic level throughout his career. Colonel Himes started his Army officer career as a Scout Platoon Leader in Bravo Troop, 1st Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colorado.
Following the Infantry Officer Advanced Course, Colonel Himes was assigned to the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) and served as a battalion staff officer and company commander in 1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, Fort Campbell, Kentucky. In 2003 Colonel Himes deployed his company in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and during the deployment, he was selected to serve as the aide de camp to the Commanding General, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault).
Upon completion of the Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, Colonel Himes was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry (Airborne), 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team in Vicenza, Italy. Colonel Himes served as a battalion executive officer and battalion operations officer and deployed to Kunar Province, Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom from May 2007 to August 2008. Upon return to Italy, Colonel Himes then served as the Executive Officer of the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team.
In 2011, Colonel Himes was selected to command 1st Battalion, 509th Infantry Regiment (Airborne) and in 2013 was selected as the G3 of the Joint Readiness Training Center and Fort Polk, Louisiana.#160;
Following U.S. Army War College at Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania, Colonel Himes served as the Division G3 of the 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, New York and deployed to Bagram Airbase where he served as the U.S. Forces - Afghanistan J3 in support of Operation Freedom Sentinel. In June 2016, COL Himes assumed command of 2nd Brigade Combat Team (BCT), 10th Mountain Division and supported NORTHCOM’s Regionally Aligned Forces mission from February through October 2017. In November 2017, 2nd BCT assumed the U.S. Army’s Focused Readiness mission for contingency operation on the Korean Peninsula.
From July 2018 through June 2019 Colonel Himes served as the Chief of Operations, Combined Joint Situational Awareness Room (CJSAR) CJ3, for the Commander, Resolute Support (COMRS) in Kabul, Afghanistan. Since July 2019, Colonel Himes serves as the United States Army South Deputy Commander – Operations.
Colonel Himes holds a Masters in Strategic Studies from the US Army War College, a Masters in Education from Kansas State University, and a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the Pennsylvania State University. COL Himes is married to the former Anjoleen Baca of Colorado Springs, Colorado and they have one child.
His awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star (1 OLC), Defense Meritorious Service Medal (1 OLC), Meritorious Service Medal (1 SLC), Joint Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal (1 OLC), Joint Service Achievement Medal (1 OLC), Army Achievement Medal (4 OLC), Ranger Tab, Combat Infantryman’s Badge, Expert Infantryman’s Badge, Master Parachutist Wings, Pathfinder Badge, and Air Assault Badge. Foreign military badges include German and Italian jump wings. He is a recipient of the Order of Saint Maurice Infantry Award, the Order of Saint George Armor Award, and the Order of Saint Barbara Field Artillery Award.
Defense and Fraternity