Lt. Col. James Ko, Battalion Commander

MICC Fort Carson

Lt. Col. James Ko assumed command of the 918th Contracting Battalion and Mission and Installation Contracting Command (MICC) – Fort Carson June 12, 2026.

Ko graduated from Eastern Washington University earning a Bachelor of Arts in economics and was commissioned as an Air Defense Artillery officer in May 2008. His first duty assignment was with Echo Battery, 6th Battalion, 52nd Air Defense Artillery Regiment, Camp Casey, South Korea, where he served as an Avenger platoon leader. Upon completion of his tour, Ko was assigned to 1st Space Battalion, Colorado Springs, Colorado, where he served as company executive officer, battalion S4 and Charlie Detachment (Forward) commander. After completing the Air Defense Artillery Captain’s Career Course in 2014, he was assigned to Fort Campbell, Kentucky, where he served as Air Defense Air Management (ADAM) Cell officer in charge and brigade chief of operations for 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault).

In 2016, Ko was accepted to Army Acquisition Corps and attended the Army Acquisition Foundation Course and the Army Basic Contracting Course. His first acquisition assignment was as a member and team leader of the 623rd Contingency Contracting Team, Vicenza, Italy. Following the completion of Command and General Staff College, Ko was assigned to the 902nd Contracting Battalion, Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM), Washington. From 2019-2020, he deployed to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility and served as the contract operations OIC for Regional Contracting Center (RCC) - Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR). Upon redeployment, he assumed the duties as 625th Contracting team leader and warranted contracting officer providing contracting support and business advice to installations requiring activities on JBLM. From 2021–2023, Ko served as the 906th Contracting Battalion executive officer. In his most recent assignment, he served as the Special Operations Command Europe chief of Contracting where he was responsible for directing and overseeing contract coordination, execution and guiding J-Directorates and components in developing contracting strategies in support of U.S. European Command Theater operation plans.

Ko is Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act Level II certified in contracting and has a Master of Business Administration with the University of Maryland – Global Campus.

His awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal with four oak leaf clusters, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Army Achievement Medal with three oak leaf clusters, Korea Defense Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal and Global War on Terrorism Medal. Ko also wears German Armed Proficiency Badge, Airborne Skill Badge, Air Assault Skill Badge, Army Basic Space Badge and the Order of St. Barbara.

Ko is married and has two children.