Howard James

HOWARD K. (KEITH) JAMES, age 63 of Beavercreek. Born in Shelbyville, KY May 25, 1953, Mr. James passed away on the morning of August 3, 2016 at Bergan Mercy Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, after an unexpected heart attack. He is survived by his wife of 30 years, Jennifer (McInnis) James, sister Kim Jasper, Eminence, KY; brothers, Ray James, Louisville, KY; Harry James, Frankfort, KY; daughter, Kristin Schultz, Clarksville, TN; sons, Douglas James, Frisco, TX; Jerry McInnis, Delaware, OH; Alan Medina, Omaha, NE; Ron Medina, Omaha, NE; and Ryan Morrow, Harrison, TN; 11 grandchildren, 2 great-grandchildren, 2 nieces and 2 nephews.

Mr. James was preceded in death by his mother and father, John and Helen James, Pleasureville, KY; and father-in law, Seaborn McInnis, Omaha, NE and son, Jeremiah Coykendall, USAF Enlisted, Abilene, Texas; and infant son, Matthew James, Karlstav, MN.

Mr. James will be sadly missed by family, a host of friends, colleagues, and his staff members both present and past located locally and across the country.

Mr. James was a retired Major, USAF and currently a senior civilian employee at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.

Civilian Career:
Beginning July 30, 2014 to the present, his third tour at Wright-Patterson, Mr. James was currently a senior leader at Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio within the Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC), Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC), Business and Enterprise Systems (BES), Logistics Systems Division (HIA), Maintenance Branch (HIAM). He was assigned as Chief, Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul Initiative (MROi) Program Office. Mr. James was responsible for the MROi contract acquisition in progress which will standardize operations across the Commodities, Electronics, Propulsion, and Missile Maintenance groups and replace selected legacy Depot maintenance IT systems at the AF Sustainment Center (AFSC); Air Logistics Complexes (ALCs) at Tinker AFB, Oklahoma; Hill AFB, Utah; Robins AFB, Georgia; and, Hill's geographically dispersed locations (Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group (AMARG), Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona; and, Kadena AB, Japan.

From 2006-2008 and 2010-2012, his second and third tours at Wright-Patterson, Mr. James was a senior leader assigned as Chief, Depot Maintenance System Program Office, Wright-Patterson. He was responsible for the depot maintenance software applications supporting the aircraft Programmed Depot Maintenance (PDM) mission at three Air Logistics Center (ALCs); Hill, Tinker and Robins AFB. The branch mission was to assure a high level of efficiency is maintained throughout the ALCs by providing software products that minimize aircraft maintenance flow days and maximize MAJCOM aircraft availability.

From 2012-2014, he was selected for a Capitol Hill/Pentagon Fellowship Program, Washington DC which gives selectees experience and first hand exposure to public policy, legislative and budgetary processes, etc. Mr. James was assigned to the US House of Representatives, Congressman Doug Lamborn of Colorado and finished the assignment in a position at the Pentagon. While in the program, Mr. James completed an Intermediate Development Education Certificate Program, and a Legislative Studies Certificate Program, both through the Government Affairs Institute, Georgetown University, Washington DC.

As a civil servant, Mr. James has served as a configuration manager supporting the Cheyenne Mountain Complex, Space Weather Acquisition Program Manager and Air Force Satellite Control Network (AFSCN) Acquisition Program Manager for the Advisory and Assistance Services (A&AS) contract, HQ AFSPC, Peterson AF, CO.

Prior to accepting a civil service position, Mr. James, was a contractor employee of the Dynamics Research Corporation (DRC), and provided acquisition and program management services to the Strategic and Nuclear Deterrence Command and Control System Program Office.

Military Career:
Mr. James entered the United States Air Force in 1972 as an Airman. In 1980 Mr. James was commissioned through Air Force Officer Training School (OTS). While on active duty, he served in a variety of positions: Maintenance Technician, Technical Instructor, Missile Launch Officer, Ground Launched Cruise Missile (GLCM) Maintenance Officer, C-130 Avionics System Program Manager and Logistics Officer. As the Director of Resource Management Defense Nuclear Agency, he served as part of a joint staff command element executing a $40M budget at a remote island supporting the Army's chemical demilitarization mission and a population of over 1400 military and Department of Defense (DoD) and Department of Energy (DOE) contractor personnel. Mr. James' final assignment prior to retiring as a Major, USAF after 26 years active duty was Chief, Space Systems Logistics Requirements, HQ Air Force Space Command (AFSPC), Peterson AFB, CO. In this role he integrated AFSPC operational requirements into acquisition logistics planning for new space systems.

Education:
1971 Graduate of Henry County High School, New Castle, KY
1980 Bachelor of Science degree in Occupational Education, Wayland Baptist University, Plainview, TX
1980 Officer Training School, Distinguished Graduate, Medina Annex, Lackland AFB, TX
1984 Master of Arts degree in Business Administration, Webster University, Wichita, KS
1987 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, AL
1993 Air Command and Staff College, Seminar, Top 10%, Robins AFB, GA
2013 Intermediate Development Education Certificate Program, Georgetown University, Washington DC.

2013 Legislative Studies Certificate Program, both through the Government Affairs Institute, Georgetown University, Washington DC.

Visitation: Friday, August 12, 2016 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Funeral Service with Full Military Honors: Saturday, August 13, 2016 at 1:00 PM
Cremation will follow Service.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to your favorite charity in Mr. James honor.