{{Short description|Namibian military officer from 1974–2005}} {{Infobox military person | honorific_prefix = | name = James Auala | honorific_suffix = | native_name = | native_name_lang = | image = | image_size = | alt = | caption = | birth_date = 1947 | death_date = | birth_place = Namibia <br /> <small> (then South West Africa, South Africa)</small> | death_place = | burial_place = | burial_label = | burial_coordinates = <!-- {{Coord|LAT|LONG|display=inline,title}} --> | nickname = | birth_name = | allegiance = {{NAM}} | branch = PLAN<br/>Namibian Army | service_years = 1974-2005 | rank = 10pxBrigadier General | service_number = <!--Do not use data from primary sources such as service records.--> | unit = | commands = {{plainlist | *Chief of Staff Logistics(1995-2005) }} | battles = Namibian War of Independence Second Congo War | battles_label = | awards = {{plainlist | *Most distinguished order of Namibia First Class }} | memorials = | spouse = | relations = | other_work = August 26 | signature = | website = <!-- {{URL|example.com}} --> | module = }} Brigadier General '''James Auala''' is a retired Namibian military commander and business person. Auala was appointed as Chief of Staff Logistics of the Namibian Defence Force (NDF) retiring in 2005.
==Early life and exile== Auala worked for the South West Africa Broadcasting Corporation between 1972 and 1974<ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=http://www.namibia-seber-diamonds.com/home/about-us/our-founders/james-v-auala/|title=Hard Stone Processing Namibia: James V. Auala|website=www.namibia-seber-diamonds.com|access-date=2021-05-02|archive-date=2022-03-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220315235129/http://www.namibia-seber-diamonds.com/home/about-us/our-founders/james-v-auala/|url-status=dead}}</ref> as a radio announcer.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://neweralive.na/posts/freedom-fighters-unpack-nambundunga|title=Freedom fighters unpack Nambundunga|website=Truth, for its own sake.}}{{Dead link|date=August 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Auala went into exile in July 1974
==Military career==
He received military training in PLAN serving in various roles including PLAN Chief of Intelligence. Auala attended the yrstrel Military Academy in Moscow graduating from the Motorized Infantry Brigade Commander course in 1985. Upon independence, PLAN and the South West African Territorial Force (SWATF) merged to form the Namibia Defence Force (NDF) Auala joined the Force receiving a senior officer rank. In 1995 he was appointed as Chief of Staff Logistics replacing Colonel Peter Nambundunga serving in that role for some ten years. During the Second Congo War he led the first Namibian Battle group to the DRC under Operation Atlantic <ref name="auto"/>
==Retirement== After retiring from Active service Auala joined Namibian Defence ministry owned August 26 Holdings as chief executive officer.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thenamibian.mobi/index.php?page=archive-read&id=114011|title=NDF food contract tops N$5b|first=The|last=Namibian|website=The Namibian|access-date=2021-05-02|archive-date=2021-05-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210505135951/https://www.thenamibian.mobi/index.php?page=archive-read&id=114011|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://namibiahouse.com/resources/docs/guias/who_s_who_namibia_compressed.pdf |title=Bio |publisher=namibiahouse.com |date= |accessdate=2021-05-02}}</ref>
==Honours and decorations== * Most distinguished order of Namibia First Class * x18px '''DRC Campaign Medal'''
{{s-start}} {{s-mil}} {{s-bef | before = Colonel Peter Nambundunga }} {{s-ttl | title =Chief of Staff Logistics | years = 1995{{snd}}2005 }} {{s-aft | after = Brigadier John Mutwa }} {{s-end}}
==References== {{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Auala, James}} Category:1947 births Category:Namibian military personnel Category:Members of SWAPO Category:People's Liberation Army of Namibia personnel Category:Living people