WASHINGTON, DC – The Atlantic Council announced today that Deborah Lee James, former secretary of the air force, has joined the Atlantic Council as a board director and its Brent Scowcroft Center on International Security as a distinguished fellow. Secretary James has thirty years of senior national security experience in the federal government and the private sector.
As the twenty-third secretary of the air force, Secretary James was responsible for the affairs of the Department of the Air Force, including the organizing, training, equipping, and providing for the welfare of its nearly 660,000 active-duty, Guard, Reserve, and civilian Airmen and their families. She also oversaw the Air Force’s annual budget of more than $139 billion.
“Deborah is among the most knowledgeable voices on national security and defense,” said Frederick Kempe, president and CEO of the Atlantic Council. “We are delighted to welcome Secretary James back to our board. As a distinguished fellow, her experience and expertise will be invaluable to the Brent Scowcroft Center’s work on foresight, strategy, and security.”
Prior to serving as Secretary of the Air Force, Secretary James was President of Science Applications International Corporation’s (SAIC) Technical and Engineering Sector, where she was responsible for 8,700 employees and more than $2 billion in revenue. For nearly a decade, Ms. James held a variety of positions with SAIC to include senior vice president and director of homeland security. From 2000 to 2001, she was executive vice president and chief operating officer at Business Executives for National Security, and from 1998 to 2000 she was vice president of international operations and marketing at United Technologies.
Secretary James said, “I have been impressed for many years by the Atlantic Council’s thought leadership and bridge building within the international community. I look forward to returning to the board and contributing to the important work that lies ahead.”
At the Atlantic Council, Secretary James joins a venerable board of policy-influencers and business leaders, chaired by Governor Jon M. Huntsman, Jr.
For more information or to schedule an interview with Secretary James, please email press@atlanticcouncil.org