Lt. Col. James “Mike” Blue was commissioned as an Infantry Officer in 2005 through the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program at George Mason University, where he was awarded a Bachelor of Arts degree in History and a minor in Religious Studies. After attending the Infantry Officer Basic Course, he was assigned to 3rd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Hood, Texas (known as Fort Cavazos since 2023), where he served as a Mortar Platoon Leader, Mechanized Infantry Platoon Leader, and Battalion S1.
In 2008, Blue transitioned to the Military Intelligence Corps after attending the Captains Career Course, Signals Intelligence Officer Course, Tactical Electronic Warfare Officer Basic, and the Counterintelligence and Human Intelligence Management Course. He then served as the Intelligence Advisor on an Iraqi National Police Transition Team deployed to Samarra and Baqubah, Iraq. From 2011 to 2013, Blue served as Battalion Assistant S3 and Company Commander within 2d Military Intelligence Battalion, 66th Military Intelligence Brigade in Wiesbaden and Hohenfels, Germany. As part of this tour, he deployed as the Commander and Deputy Director of the CJIATF 435 Strategic Debriefing Center.
Reporting to Joint Base Lewis McChord in 2015, Blue served as the 17th Field Artillery Brigade S2 and Executive Officer, Battalion Executive Officer of 109th Expeditionary Military Intelligence Battalion, and the Aide-de-Camp to the Commanding General of I Corps. From 2018 to 2021, he served within the Joint Special Operations Command Intelligence Brigade as a Troop Commander, Squadron Executive Officer, and the Director of the Intelligence Capabilities Directorate. Blue then commanded the 307th Military Intelligence Battalion in Vicenza, Italy, which was responsible for multi-discipline intelligence collection in support of USAFRICOM. He is currently a student at the National War College working on a Master of Science in National Security Strategy with a concentration in Data and Disruptive Technologies.
Blue earned a Master of Arts degree in Intelligence Studies from the American Military University and a Master of Science degree in Strategic Intelligence from the National Intelligence University.
With multiple tours to Iraq and Afghanistan, Blue’s awards and decorations include: Bronze Star Medal (2OLC), Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (2OLC), Joint Service Commendation Medal (C), Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal (1OLC), Presidential Unit Citation, Joint Meritorious Unit Award (1OLC), Army Meritorious Unit Award (2OLC), Combat Infantryman Badge, Parachutist Badge, and German Parachutist Badge.
Blue is married and has three children.