Department of Defense

Bio, via Department of Defense:

Prior to his appointment, Dr. Jackson served as the Director of the Advanced Strategist Program and a Professor in the Strategy and Policy Department of the U.S. Naval War College in Newport, RI. He also taught a series of courses on strategy, counterinsurgency, counterterrorism, and security studies at MIT and Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA). Dr. Jackson is a Research Affiliate of MIT’s Security Studies Program. In 2011, Dr. Jackson deployed to Afghanistan where he served in uniform as the Executive Officer for Policy Planning for the Deputy Chief of Staff of Operations, International Security Assistance Force, Afghanistan. In 2009, he served as a Senior Civilian Adviser to Task Force Mountain Warrior in Jalalabad, Afghanistan. Prior to entering academia, Dr. Jackson worked for several years in the corporate sector in financial trading, telecommunications, transportation markets, and power development. He continues to serve in the U.S. Army Reserve. Dr. Jackson holds degrees from Princeton University’s Woodrow Wilson School (B.A., Public and International Affairs), the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School (M.B.A., Finance), Johns Hopkins’ School of Advanced International Studies (M.A., International Economics and Strategic Studies), and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Ph.D., Political Science (Security Studies)).

Bio, via United States Army Corps of Engineers:

Mr. Rickey Dale "R.D." James, a self-employed farmer and manager of cotton gins and grain elevators for the A.C. Riley Company in New Madrid, Missouri, was appointed to the Mississippi River Commission on December 1, 1981. After his nine-year-term had expired, he was reappointed April 19, 1991. Mr. James was reappointed for a third 9-year term on April 16, 2003. While employed with the Kentucky Department of Water Resources engineering office, he attended the University of Kentucky and graduated with a degree in civil engineering in 1971. Mr. James received the Sikeston Area Chamber of Commerce 2007 Agri Business Award and was the New Madrid County Outstanding Conservation Farmer of 1987. He presently serves on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of the Southern Cotton Ginners Association, Memphis, Tennessee; Board Member, Cotton Producers of Missouri, Kennett, Missouri. He is a past member of both the Board of Directors of the U.S. Bank of Sikeston, Missouri, and the New Madrid County Board of Education (served as the president from 1980-1998). A native of Fulton County, Kentucky, he and his wife Jennye have two children, Albert Riley James, a 1995 graduate of Mississippi State University -- now in the family farming business and employed by A.C. Riley Cotton Company, and Virginia Elizabeth James (deceased).

Bio, via United States Army:

Prior to his confirmation, Dr. Jette served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Synovision Solutions, LLC, an innovative company he founded to provide management and technical consulting, engineering services, and project management in support of military and governmental agencies, as well as commercial industry. A decorated veteran of 28 years of active duty, Dr. Jette retired as a Colonel following a career that included several armor and cavalry company commands, two overseas tours, various staff assignments at the battalion and brigade level, and over two years of operational deployments to Afghanistan, Iraq and Kuwait. Highlights of his previous acquisition service include founding the U.S. Army Rapid Equipping Force; serving as Program Manager for Solider Systems which led to the establishment of Program Executive Office Soldier; and being honored as U.S. Army PM of the Year for his success as Product Manager for all Army airborne electronic warfare systems. Dr. Jette is a graduate of the United States Military Academy with a Bachelor of Science degree in Nuclear Engineering and Chemistry. He also holds both a Master of Science degree and a Doctorate in Electronic Materials from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He was an Adjunct Professor at the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service Security Studies Program at Georgetown University. His numerous military awards and commendations include the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit (3), Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (3), Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal (2), National Defense Medal (2), Operation Iraqi Freedom Campaign Ribbon, Operation Enduring Freedom Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Army Overseas Ribbon (2), Parachutist Badge, Army General Staff Award, and Order of Saint Maurice (Legionnaire).

Bio, via The Heritage Foundation:

Justin T. Johnson specializes in defense budgets and policies for The Heritage Foundation’s Allison Center for National Security and Foreign Policy. Prior to joining The Heritage Foundation, Johnson spent over a decade working on defense and foreign policy issues on Capitol Hill. His last position on Capitol Hill was as Deputy Chief of Staff and Military Legislative Assistant for Rep. Doug Lamborn, who is a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee. Johnson received a master’s degree from the Naval War College with a particular focus on terrorism and the maritime domain. He is also a member of the 2013-2014 Future Leaders Program at the Foreign Policy Initiative, the 2011-12 class of Next Generation National Security Leaders at the Center for a New American Security (CNAS) and the 2012 class of the Heritage Foundation’s Marshall Fellows. Originally from St. Louis, Missouri, Johnson grew up in Iowa before moving to Eastern Europe. After living in Germany, Belarus and the Czech Republic, Johnson attended Covenant College in Lookout Mountain, Georgia where he studied philosophy and art. Johnson and his wife and three children live in Washington, DC.

Bio, via LinkedIn:

I have worked in Washington, DC since 1995. My experience ranges from the Legislative branch to theExecutive branch and now to the Private Sector with an emphasis on business development.

Bio, via Department of Defense:

Prior to serving as the USD(I), Mr. Kernan served in a variety of positions from 2013-2017, including: Board Director and Senior Vice President of Corporate Development and Marketing for SAP National Security Services; Advisor for JLM Companies; Chairman of NS2 Serves, a Non-profit training and employment program for veterans; and Board member for the National Navy SEAL Museum and The Mission Continues. After graduating from the United States Naval Academy in 1977, Mr. Kernan served as a Surface Warfare Officer until 1981 and as Naval Special Warfare Officer until his military retirement in 2013. Over the course of his career, he commanded SEAL Team TWO, the Naval Special Warfare Development Group, the Naval Special Warfare Command, and U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. Fourth Fleet. He also served as Senior Military Assistant to former Defense Secretary Robert Gates and as the Deputy Commander of the U.S. Southern Command.