Mark James is the Planning Manager for the Community Initiatives Team, Luke Air Force Base, Arizona. He is responsible for developing and reviewing policy and providing recommendations to the Wing Commander on the full range of encroachment and airspace issues affecting Luke’s flying mission. Additionally, he ensures flight sustainability of America’s premier fighter aircraft through managed growth actions surrounding Luke Air Force Base and is responsible for protecting terminal airspace in the Phoenix West Valley. This airspace encompasses 8,000 cubic miles surrounding Luke AFB and includes 20 private airstrips and 7 public airfields.
Mark enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1996 and upon graduation from Basic Military Training was assigned as a Civil Engineer. After five years of building, sustaining and protecting various installations, Mark accepted an assignment to instruct Professional Military Education (PME) for 480 Airmen annually; it is in this duty where he found his passion for education. He would stay in the PME field for the majority of his career, serving as Instructor, Director of Operations, Director of Education and Commandant. His last active duty assignment brought him to Luke Air Force Base where he served as Superintendent, Maintenance Training for the 56th Maintenance Group where he directed Instructional Systems Development for 21 courses supporting 122 F-16 and F-35 aircraft valued at 6.3 billion dollars. He retired from active duty in 2017 and would teach Air Force Junior ROTC as an Aerospace Science Instructor before accepting his current position.
EDUCATION 1996 Structural Apprentice Course, Naval Construction Training Center, Gulfport, MS 2001 Airman Leadership School, Dover AFB, DE, John L. Levitow Award 2004 Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology, Wesley College, Dover AFB, DE 2008 Non-commissioned Officer Academy, Peterson AFB, CO, John L. Levitow Award 2006 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence 2010 USMC SNCO Advanced Course, Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Top Fitness Award 2011 Professional Manager Certification, Air University 2012 Joint Senior Non-commissioned Officer PME Course, Air University 2020 Master of Public Administration Degree, Grand Canyon University, Phoenix, AZ
CAREER CHRONOLOGY 1. Mar 1997 – Jul 2000, Structural Journeyman, 20th Civil Engineer Sq, Shaw AFB, S.C. 2. Jun 1998 – Nov 1998, Structural Craftsman, 4404th Civil Engineer Sq, Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia U N I T E D S T A T E S A I R F O R C E 3. Jul 2000 – Oct 2001, Structural Craftsman, 436th Civil Engineer Sq, Dover AFB, DE 4. Oct 2001 – Jun 2006, Instructor, Airman Leadership School, Dover AFB, DE 5. Jun 2006 – Apr 2008, NCOIC, Unit Training, 21st Security Forces Sq, Peterson AFB, CO 6. Apr 2008 – May 2009, Group Training Manager, 21st Medical Group, Peterson AFB, CO 7. May 2009 – Feb 2012, Instructor, Erwin Non-commissioned Officer Academy, Kadena AB, Okinawa, Japan 8. Feb 2012 – May 2014, Commandant, Erwin Airman Leadership School, Kadena AB, Okinawa, Japan 9. May 2014 – Jun 2015, Director of Education, Erwin Professional Military Education Center, Kadena AB, Okinawa, Japan 10. Jun 2015 – Nov 2017, Superintendent, Maintenance Training Flight, 56th Maintenance Group, Luke AFB, AZ 11. Jul 2018 – July 2019, Aerospace Science Instructor, Agua Fria High School, Avondale, AZ 12. Aug 2020 – Present, Planning Manager, Community Initiatives Team, Luke AFB, AZ
AWARDS AND HONORS Air Force Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters Air Force Commendation Medal with four oak leaf clusters Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with eight oak leaf clusters Air Force Organizational Excellence Award with one oak leaf cluster National Defense Service Medal with one bronze star Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (Current as of Mar ‘22)