James Noronha, a native of Madbury, New Hampshire, graduated from NROTC and Cornell University in May 2009, and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant. He completed the Basic Officer Course and Infantry Officer Course in 2010.
Upon completion of officer training, 2ndLt Noronha was assigned to 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines in MCB Hawaii, where he initially served in Weapons Company as the liaison officer for foreign forces training. He deployed with 1/3 in April 2011 to Helmand Province, where he advised and trained the Afghan National Army unit paired with Weapons Company. After the deployment, he transferred to Bravo Company and served as Rifle Platoon Commander and then transferred to Alpha Company and took the role of Weapons Platoon Commander. He deployed in this role on a UDP to Camp Schwab, Okinawa from 2012-2013, and took the role of S-3A Assistant Battalion Operations Officer upon return. In 2013, Capt Noronha transitioned to the IRR.
In 2018, Capt Noronha transitioned to the SMCR with Alpha Company, 1/25. He served for a year as Executive Officer and FiST leader as the company completed ITX, and afterwards transitioned to the IRR.
In 2024, Major Noronha took the role of Assistant Operations Officer with 1/25, and in September assumed the role of H&S Company Commander, his current assignment.