Connor James is a 2023 Millennium fellow and a director at Laurel Strategies, where he helps advise chief executive officers and leaders on navigating crises, geopolitics, current events, and strategic positioning. James attended the University of Virginia where he received his MA in foreign affairs and focused his research on increasing the effectiveness of US coercive threats to prevent global conflict. His work on optics and threat-making in foreign affairs has been published in the Modern War Institute at West Point. While at the University of Virginia, James worked at the National Security Policy Center.
 
James received his BA from the George Washington University, where he was a three-season NCAA Division 1 athlete. James was awarded the Joshua Evans III Prize acknowledging top graduating students in political science.