Deborah Lee James
Deborah Roche Lee James (born November 25, 1958) served as the 23rd Secretary of the Air Force. She is the second woman, after Sheila Widnall, to ever hold this position.
Deborah James | |
|---|---|
| 23rd United States Secretary of the Air Force | |
| In office December 20, 2013 – January 20, 2017 | |
| President | Barack Obama |
| Deputy | Eric Fanning Lisa Disbrow |
| Preceded by | Michael B. Donley |
| Succeeded by | Heather Wilson |
| 3rd Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs | |
| In office June 1, 1993 – April 1, 1998 | |
| President | Bill Clinton |
| Preceded by | Stephen M. Duncan |
| Succeeded by | Charles L. Cragin (acting) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Deborah Lynn Roche November 25, 1958 Long Branch, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Frank Beatty |
| Education | Duke University (BA) Columbia University (MIA) |
James was confirmed as 23rd Secretary of the Air Force on December 13, 2013, and started her tenure on December 20, 2013. 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. She oversaw the Air Force's annual budget ($139 billion in 2015).
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, and a drug and cheating scandal inside the Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC).