James B Smith
James is co chair of the National Academy of Sciences study of Veterans Services and former Executive Vice President of the College of Engineering, Technology and Aeronautics at Southern New Hampshire University.
Prior to this leadership position, James served as U.S. Ambassador to Saudi Arabia from 2009-2013.
Prior to his appointment, James led multinational businesses where he has brought about creative change and strategic planning to both products and design.
James had a 28-year career in the United States Air Force and served around the world in a variety of operational assignments, including combat missions during Operation Desert Storm.
He held a variety of staff assignments involving coalition partners, and served as Air Force chair and professor of military strategy at the National War College. During his final assignment at U.S. Joint Forces Command he led Millennium Challenge, the largest military transformation experiment in history. He was promoted to Brigadier General as an F-15 fighter pilot in 1998 and retired from the Air Force in 2002.