Former Secretary of the Air Force, Deborah Lee James, Appointed to Special Advisory Role at Bain & Company

NEW YORK, June 08, 2017 -- Bain & Company, the global business consulting firm, announces the appointment of Deborah Lee James as a special advisor in the firm’s Washington, DC office.  Ms. James, former secretary of the U.S. Air Force, has more than 30 years of experience in national security and defense in both the federal government and the private sector.  Her appointment was effective June 1, 2017.

“Deborah brings to our team deep technical expertise in defense and government services, as well as extensive leadership experience, both of which will be critical in helping our clients address some of their toughest business challenges,” said Phil Kleweno, who leads Bain’s DC office.  “We look forward to working with her as we guide these organizations through transformations that will measurably improve their performance.”

In her role at Bain, Ms. James will advise aerospace, defense and government services clients.  She will also work closely with Bain’s local leadership to cultivate relationships with high-potential individuals and companies in these and other industries in the region. 

“I look forward to working with some of the world’s most trusted business advisors at Bain to help leading organizations manage and win through these turbulent times,” said Ms. James. 

Prior to her Air Force service, Ms. James was president of the technical and engineering sector at Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), where she was responsible for 8,700 employees and more than $2 billion in revenue. For nearly a decade, she held a variety of other positions within SAIC, including senior vice president and director of homeland security.

From 2000 to 2001, she was executive vice president and COO at Business Executives for National Security.  She also served as vice president of international operations and marketing at United Technologies.

During the Clinton Administration, Ms. James served in the Pentagon as the assistant secretary of defense for reserve affairs.  She has also worked as a professional staff member on the House Armed Services Committee, where she was a senior advisor to the Military Personnel and Compensation Subcommittee, the NATO Burden Sharing Panel, and the Chairman’s Member Services team.

Ms. James sits on the board of the Atlantic Council and is a member of the advisory board of MIT Lincoln Laboratory.  She also serves as a senior advisor at the Center for Strategic International Studies. Effective July 1, she will join the board of directors of Textron.

Ms. James earned her master’s degree in international affairs from the Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs.  She graduated with her B.A. in comparative area studies from Duke University.

Editor’s Note: To arrange an interview with Ms. James, please contact Dan Pinkney at [email protected] or +1 646 562 8102.

About Bain & Company
Bain & Company is the management consulting firm that the world's business leaders come to when they want results. Bain advises clients on strategy, operations, information technology, organization, private equity, digital transformation and strategy, and mergers and acquisition, developing practical insights that clients act on and transferring skills that make change stick.  The firm aligns its incentives with clients by linking its fees to their results.  Bain clients have outperformed the stock market 4 to 1. Founded in 1973, Bain has 55 offices in 36 countries, and its deep expertise and client roster cross every industry and economic sector. For more information visit: www.bain.com.  Follow us on Twitter @BainAlerts.

Media Contact: 
Dan Pinkney
Bain & Company
Tel: +1 646 562 8102
[email protected]