Major General James W. Lukeman was born in Beaufort, South Carolina. He was commissioned a second lieutenant through the NROTC program upon graduation from the University of Notre Dame in 1980.

After Infantry Officer Course, Lieutenant Lukeman was assigned to 1st Battalion, 2nd Marines at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. He served in Alpha Company as a Rifle Platoon Commander and Weapons Platoon Commander and as the Battalion's 81mm Mortar Platoon Commander. In 1983, he was transferred to the Staff NCO academy at Quantico, Virginia where he served as the Director of the Career Course.

In 1986, Captain Lukeman was reassigned to Camp Lejeune as the S-3A for 3rd Battalion, 6th Marines. Following a deployment with the 26th MEU, he was assigned as the Company Commander, Lima Company, 3/6. In 1989, he attended Amphibious Warfare School. After graduation, he was assigned to Alpha Company, Marine Security Guard Battalion in Frankfurt, Germany where he served as the Operations Officer.

In 1992, Major Lukeman was transferred to the NROTC Unit at the University of Texas at Austin where he served as the Marine Officer Instructor. In 1995, he attended Command and Staff College at Quantico, Virginia. In 1996, he was assigned to the 1st Marine Division as the Executive Officer of 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines. During this tour the Battalion deployed to the Persian Gulf with the 15th MEU. After promotion to Lieutenant Colonel, he moved up to the Division Staff where he served as the Operations Officer for the 1st Marine Division.

In 1998, Lieutenant Colonel Lukeman attended the National War College in Washington DC. His follow on assignment was with the Office of the Secretary of Defense as an Assistant for Strategy and Force Planning in the Strategy Office. In July 2001, he returned to the 1st Marine Division and took command of 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines. He deployed with 2/5 to Okinawa as part of the 31st MEU. In June 2002, he was assigned to the Division staff where he served as the Assistant Chief of Staff, G-7 and Assistant Chief of Staff, G-3 during OIF-I.

In 2003, Colonel Lukeman was assigned as the Commanding Officer, Security Battalion, Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia. Following that tour, he served as the Chief of Staff for Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia. From 2006 to 2008, he served as the Chief of Staff for Training and Education Command. In 2008, he was assigned as the Military Assistant to the Assistant Commandant, where he served until his selection for Brigadier General. Brigadier General Lukeman served as the Deputy Director for Strategy and Plans, J5, US Africa Command, from 2010 until 2012.

From 2012 to 2014, Major General Lukeman served as the Commanding General, Second Marine Division. Major General Lukeman currently serves as the Commanding General, Training and Education Command.