Deborah James has over 35 years of experience in senior homeland and national security management, policy, and program positions. She has transformed large-scale enterprises, including a $2 billion private sector entity and a $140 billion government agency, the U.S. Air Force. James has also served as the 23rd Secretary of the Air Force and as Assistant Secretary of Defense, Reserve Affairs at the United States Department of Defense. She is the author of "Aim High: Chart Your Course and Find Success," a book available on Amazon Books. Today, Deborah serves on several for-profit and not-for-profit organizations, provides strategic advice to various firms, and speaks on matters of national security, leadership, and other topical areas.

Education-wise, she studied Comparative Area Studies at Duke University and International Affairs at Columbia University - School of International and Public Affairs. Deborah is a former chairwoman of the Board of Directors at Firefly Aerospace, a member of the Board of Managers at Improbable LLC, and the Chairwoman of the Board of Directors at The PenFed Foundation. She has also served on the board of directors of Systems & Technology Research, Noblis, Unisys, and Textron. She is a former special advisor at Bain & Company, a member of the advisory board at LeanIn.Org, and a member of the advisory board at Beacon Global Strategies LLC. She has also worked as a senior advisor at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), a member of the Advisory Board at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Lincoln Laboratory, and as a professional staff member at US House of Representatives.