Colonel James L. Shelton Jr. enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1989. After attending graduate school at the University of Nebraska at Kearney, he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in 1995. Upon completion of The Basic School, he was assigned to Parris Island as a Budget Officer. During his initial assignment, he served as a Series Commander in Fox Company and Charlie Company. Captain Shelton’s final assignment aboard the Depot was as the Fiscal Services and Liaison Officer.
During July 1999, Capt Shelton reported to Marine Corps Support Activity, Kansas City Missouri as the Comptroller. Upon completion of duty in Kansas City, he attended the inaugural class of the Expeditionary Warfare School in Quantico, Virginia and subsequently reported to H&S Battalion, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, Okinawa Japan where he served as the deputy comptroller, comptroller, H&S Battalion S-3, the MLR-2 S-4 during Operation Unified Assistance and the Headquarters company commander. He also deployed to Iraq in support of the establishment of MNF-I.
During the summer of 2006, Major Shelton reported to MCRD Parris Island where he served as the MCRD/ERR Deputy Comptroller and executive officer for First Recruit Training Battalion. During the summer of 2009, Major Shelton attended the Naval War College and obtained a Masters of Arts in strategic studies.
In June 2010, Major Shelton reported to the Joint Information Operations Warfare Center, San Antonio, Texas where he served as an Information Operations Planner, the J3 Operations Officer and deployed to Afghanistan in support of a Joint Special Operations Task Force and in support of Libya operations. He attended the Joint Forces Staff College during this tour.
During June 2012 he was transferred to Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island in order to assume the duties of Battalion Commander, 3rd Recruit Training Battalion, Recruit Training Regiment. During the summer of 2014, LtCol Shelton attended the Army War College and obtained a Masters of Arts in strategic studies. Following Army War College LtCol Shelton assumed duties as the III MEF G-8 and completed a successful tour there before reporting to I MEF as the A/C G-8.
On 21 June 2018 he was assigned to Marine Corps Combat Service Support Schools, Camp Johnson, North Carolina as the Commanding Officer.
His personal decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (Third Award), Joint Service Commendation Medal (Second Award), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (Second Award), Joint Service Achievement Medal.