James Finlayson is an enterprise strategy and business development executive with vast experience across cyber, intelligence, and national security missions. A graduate of the United States Air Force Academy and a former senior Air Force officer, James brings nearly three decades of experience directing global operations, shaping long range capability development, and guiding modernization efforts across multidomain environments.

During his distinguished military career, James commanded the Air Force Technical Applications Center, a 1,200-person global intelligence organization with a $ 400-million budget. In that role, he oversaw enterprise training and capability development for the Department of Defense’s sole nuclear treaty monitoring and detection enterprise and directed strategic operations supporting deterrence, space, cyber, and global planning. His joint warfighter experience includes assignments at U.S. Central Command, U.S. Southern Command, U.S. Strategic Command, U.S. Cyber Command, and the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

James holds a PhD in Organizational Development and Leadership, a JD from the Boyd School of Law at the University of Nevada Las Vegas (Nevada Bar member since 2008), an MBA, and a BS. He serves as an adjunct professor at the Air Force Air War College, where he helps shape senior leaders’ judgment in national security and strategic leadership. He is also a licensed Nevada attorney and a permanent member of the Council on Foreign Relations.

James lives in Florida with his beautiful wife and two amazing daughters. Outside of work, he enjoys early morning workouts, teaching, and traveling to warm beach destinations with his family.