Lt. Gen. Larry James, USAF (Ret.) AIAA Board of Trustees; Strategic Advisor SmartSat Cooperative Research Centre (SmartSat)

Lt. Gen. Larry James, USAF (Ret.) was appointed as Strategic Advisor for SmartSat Cooperative Research Centre in Adelaide Australia and Professor of Practice in Space Innovation at Monash University in Melbourne Australia in June 2024. In the SmartSat role he provides advocacy, technical advice and support for SmartSat’s R&D, innovation and educational activities. At Monash he makes significant international leadership contributions and fosters excellence in the teaching, research, industry engagement and professional activities of aerospace and related fields. 

Prior to his work in Australia, he was the Deputy Director of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory from 2013 to 2024. There he oversaw the day-to-day management of JPL's resources and activities. This included managing the Laboratory's solar system exploration, Mars, astronomy, physics, Earth science, interplanetary network programs, and all business operations.

Prior to his retirement from the Air Force Lt. Gen. James was the Air Force Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance at the Pentagon and had numerous space and intelligence leadership positions during his 35 year career.  

Lt. Gen. James received his Bachelor of Science in Astronautical Engineering (1978) from the US Air Force Academy (Distinguished Graduate) and his Master of Science in Aeronautics and Astronautics (1983) from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge MA. He was also a Draper Fellow at the Charles Stark Draper Laboratory in Cambridge MA. He is also a Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.