Jim Sears

About Jim Sears

I’ve spent my career aligning workforce, technology, and operations under national-level constraints while driving organizational excellence and strategic growth with a focus on governance, risk, and financial oversight.As a retired USAF Major General, I bring CEO/CFO/COO equivalent executive experience leading high-performing global organizations up to employees and managing $9 billion budgets. I\'m deeply committed to advancing America\'s leadership in STEM.Demonstrated ability to transform and lead complex organizations, delivering significant results in- Strategic Planning & Execution: Spearheaded strategic overhauls and technology integration to revolutionize workforce development, leading to $910 million in cost savings. Directed testing for over $1 trillion in acquisition programs with zero delays during a global pandemic- Operational & Financial Oversight: Managed C-suite operations, academic leadership, and financial strategy for a large education and training enterprise. Improved airfield operations, and consistently achieved mission success in high-stakes environments- Risk Management & Governance: Made daily life-or-death decisions in combat, ensuring mission success without incident. Deeply understand governance principles- Stakeholder Relations: Expert in building and nurturing critical relationships with federal agencies, research labs, industry, and congressional leaders.Active TS/SCI and DOE Q Clearances

Experience

1. Sr Vice President, Orau Government Services

   ORAU

   Aug 2024 — Present · Oak Ridge, TN, US

   Senior Vice President at ORAU, leading Government Services programs that strengthen public health, nuclear safety, workforce development, and scientific innovation. Lead efforts to integrate academia, government, and industry in advancing the Nation’s learning, health, and scientific priorities. Oversee a diverse portfolio of programs focused on public health, environmental science, and emergency preparedness, guiding a team of over 200 professionals to deliver innovative solutions that benefit the public. Ensure that Government Services remains at the forefront of addressing critical national challenges with excellence, collaboration, and integrity—driving success in meeting complex challenges with effective, evidence-based strategies- Developed ORAU’s first-ever enterprise-wide business strategy, successfully aligning three historically siloed business lines to support growth, diversification, and long-term sustainability- Provided decisive leadership to shift ORAU from a legacy culture toward a mission-focused, performance-driven nonprofit model capable of scaling national impact- Challenged organizational perfectionism and consensus-driven decision making by instilling a culture of excellence, adaptability, and informed risk-taking aligned with strategic priorities- Partnered with executive leadership and the board of directors to define the bold leadership ORAU needs at a time of federal funding uncertainty—advocating for innovation, clarity, and mission alignment- Executive director on ORAU board Research Committee

Education

• Center for Creative Leadersjip

  Leadership Development Program

• National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD)

  Battlefield to Boardroom, Executive Board Membership

• United States Air Force Academy

  BS, International Affairs

  1987 — 1991

• Georgetown University

  Executive Leadership Program in Managing for Inclusion

• National Defense University

  MS, Strategy and Joint Campaign Planning

• The Johns Hopkins University

  Artificial Intelligence Course for Executives

• University of Virginia Darden School of Business

  Executive Leadership Development Program

• Webster University

  MA, Human Resource Development