Project Manager, United States Army Armored Fighting Vehicles

COL Jim Schirmer is currently the Project Manager for Armored Fighting Vehicles, responsible for the Bradley, Self-Propelled Howitzer, and Next Generation Combat Vehicle programs. He also launched the Army’s Mobile Protected Firepower program, which became a separate PM office in July of 2017.

Jim Schirmer was commissioned an Armor Officer following graduation from United States Military Academy in 1991. He served in 2-64 Armor in Schweinfurt Germany 1992 through 1994. His next assignment was with the 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Hood, Texas from 1995-1999. There he then served as a Brigade Plans Officer, and commanded C Company/3-8 CAV. COL Schirmer also commanded the 1st Cavalry Division’s Headquarters Company during their deployment to Bosnia in support of Operation Joint Forge from 1998-1999.
COL Schirmer entered the Army Acquisition Corps in 1999. He served as a Test Officer in Operational Test Command, working operational tests for the M2A3 Bradley, TOW Fire and Forget missile system, and the Modular Lightweight Load-bearing Equipment (MOLLE). He later served as an Assistant PM with the Stryker program where he managed the Mortar and Anti-tank platforms. In 2007 he was assigned to the TRADOC Capability Manager for the Heavy Brigade Combat Team at Fort Knox Kentucky, where he served as the user’s representative for the Bradley family of vehicles and later for the Abrams tank. In July of 2010 he returned to PM Stryker and assumed duties as a Product Manager, where he helped launch the Double-V Hull version in support of operations in Afghanistan. After graduating from the Army War College in 2014, he returned again to Michigan to assume his current duties as Project Manager, Armored Fighting Vehicles.

His military education includes the Armor Officer Basic Course, Armor Officer Advanced Course, Command and General Staff College, and the Army War College. His civilian education includes a Bachelor of Science degree in International History from West Point, a Master of Business Administration from the University of Texas at Austin, and a Masters of Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College.

COL Schirmer is married to the former Amanda Atkins of Louisville, Kentucky. They have four sons; Dominic (30), Grant (19), Jack (17), and Kent (13).