Biography:
Executive Director, Senior Executive Leadership Development Program (SELDP)
Office of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs
In his current role, Jim will design, develop, and deliver a government-wide program to help busy executives improve government performance and face challenges of decreasing budgets, increasing workloads, and unprecedented complexity. The program will emphasize that strong leaders create better performance results through employee engagement.
Prior to Jim’s appointment with VA, he was the Technical Training Director for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), where he oversaw the development and implementation of an integrated workforce plan to hire and train 17,000 new air traffic controllers and received an FAA Leadership Award for his efforts. Prior to the FAA, Jim served as the FBI’s Chief Learning Officer and managed the prestigious FBI Academy, the National Academy for state and local law enforcement officers, the Center for Intelligence Training, and the Leadership Development Institute. He implemented training initiatives crucial to the FBI’s efforts to strengthen its intelligence workforce, build on its counterterrorism expertise, and prepare agents to deal with future global threats. Prior to the FBI, Jim served as the IRS’ Director of Leadership and Organizational Effectiveness and led development programs to new heights, which continue to serve as benchmarks for both public and private institutions.
CAREER CHRONOLOGY:
Jan 2012 – Present Executive Director, SELDP, Department of Veterans Affairs
Jul 2006 – Jan 2012 Director, Technical Training and Development, Federal Aviation Administration
Jun 2004 – Jul 2006 Chief Learning Officer, Federal Bureau of Investigation
Dec 1999 – Jun 2004 Director, Leadership and Organizational Effectiveness, Internal Revenue Service
MAJOR MILITARY ASSIGNMENTS/AWARDS/DECORATIONS:
Jim completed a distinguished 22-year career in the U.S. Air Force piloting F-4 and F-16 fighter aircraft, holding a variety of training, leadership, and command jobs. In Air Force International Affairs, Jim served as the Middle East country director, advancing the air force capabilities of eight different countries through the U.S. Foreign Military Assistance Program. He also served as the Deputy Commander for Operations of a 2,500 person unit, comprised of forces from five countries and three services, deployed to Kuwait in response to Iraqi opposition to UN weapons inspectors. His military honors and awards include an Air Medal, two Meritorious Service Medals, the Jabara Award for Airmanship, the Aviators’ Valor Award, and the Air Force Well Done Award.
EDUCATION:
2001 George Washington University, Ph.D., Political Science, International Relations, Washington, DC
2000 Aspen Institute Executive Seminar, Aspen, CO
2000 IRS Executive Candidate Development Program, Washington, DC
1999 George Washington University, Master of Philosophy, International Relations, Washington, DC
1992 Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, KS
1986 Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, Master of Science, Aeronautical Science, Daytona Beach, FL
1984 Combat Aircraft Instructor Course
1978 United States Air Force Academy, B.S., Engineering Mechanics, Colorado Springs, CO
PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATIONS:
1985 – Pres Commercial Instrument, Single Engine Land Aircraft Pilot Rating
AWARDS AND HONORS:
2007 Air Traffic Organization Leadership Award (Federal Aviation Administration)
2005 FBI ranked second in Executive Excellence Publishing 500 organization leadership development survey
2003 American Society of Training and Development BEST Award for Internal Revenue Service
2002 IRS Commissioner’s Award
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND ASSOCIATIONS:
2001 – Pres American Society of Training and Development (ASTD)
2001 – 2010 Corporate Leadership Council (Corporate Executive Board)
2004 – Pres Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM)
2005 – Pres International Public Management Association for Human Resources (IPMA-HR)
2000 – 2009 Kingstowne Residential Owners Association Board (Vice President)
MAJOR PUBLICATIONS:
“Leadership as Legacy Work,” Seeing the Future Through New Eyes, (World Future Society, 2008)
“Performance Engagement,” Leadership Excellence, Vol. 25, No. 8, Aug 2008;
“High Impact Leaders,” Leadership Excellence, Vol. 25, No. 6, Jun 2008;
“Leadership Legacies,” Leadership Excellence, Vol. 24, No. 12 (Dec 2007);
A Legacy of 21st Century Leadership, (iUniverse, Aug 2007);
“What’s a Manager to Do?” Leadership Excellence, Vol. 32, No. 9, Sep 2005;
“Great Leaders,” Leadership Excellence, Vol. 22, No. 7, Jul 2005;
“What’s a Manager to Do?” Industrial and Commercial Training, Vol. 37, No. 3, 2005;
“Building Great Leaders at the IRS,” Industrial and Commercial Training, Vol. 36, No. 7, 2004;
“Islamic Fundamentalism,” Strategic Review, Spring 1995
Breakout Session
21st Century Leadership: Chaos, Conflict, and Courage
Thursday, July 26, 2012
10:30 AM – 11:30 AM
Government as a classical bureaucracy now has challenges in terms of a rapidly changing world, the rise of social networks both within and across agencies, the increased role of non-government and private sector organizations, and the increased need for greater fiduciary responsibility. Learn how to think horizontally and work across groups – while also operating within the classical hierarchy of the bureaucracy.
