Deborah Lee James

Deborah Roche Lee James (born November 25, 1958) served as the 23rd Secretary of the Air Force.[2] In her position she was responsible for the affairs of the United States Department of the Air Force, including the organization, training, and equipping 690,000 active-duty, Guard, Reserve, and civilian personnel.[3] During her tenure she confronted issues stemming from the USAF budget sequestration in 2013, continued troubles with the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II, Congressional investigation of the USAF for its handling of sexual assaults,[2] and a drug and cheating scandal inside the Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC).Prior to being named Secretary of the Air Force, she served as president of SAIC's Technical and Engineering Sector.James has 30 years of senior homeland and national security bureaucratic and administrative experience in the U.S. federal government and the private sector.[15] Addressing the 2011–2013 Malmstrom Air Force Base debacle two years later at Aspen Security Forum, James said that, "We never found evidence of cheating beyond that one base, but we did find evidence of systemic problems across the board," which were addressed by increased training, additional incentives, and better development opportunities.Balancing Air Force ISR (intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance) capability with finite resources remained a top priority.
United States Secretary of the Air ForceBarack ObamaEric FanningLisa DisbrowMichael B. DonleyHeather WilsonAssistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve AffairsBill ClintonLong BranchNew JerseyDemocraticDuke UniversityColumbia UniversitySecretary of the Air ForceSheila WidnallUnited States Department of the Air ForceLockheed Martin F-35 Lightning IIAir Force Global Strike CommandLong Branch, New JerseyRumsonRumson-Fair Haven Regional High SchoolDurham, North Carolinamaster's degreeInternational AffairsNew York CityHouse Armed Services CommitteeScience Applications International Corporation (SAIC)Business Executives for National SecurityUnited TechnologiesAir Force Office of Special Investigations341st Missile WingMalmstrom Air Force BaseNuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medalfifth generation fightersWayback MachineUnited States SenateC-SPANUnited States secretaries of the Air ForceSecretariesSymingtonFinletterTalbottQuarlesDouglasZuckertSeamansMcLucasStetsonRourkeAldridgeWidnallPetersDonleyWilsonBarrettKendallUndersecretariesBarrowsMcConeGilpatricMacIntyreCharykMcMillanHoopesPlummerChayesMcGovernForemanDe LeonDiBattisteConatonFanningDisbrowDonovanDalton