James Geurts

Geurts served from 2017 to 2021 as Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Research, Development and Acquisition). Prior to that role, he served in the Senior Executive Service as Acquisition Executive for United States Special Operations Command, where he was responsible for all special operations forces research, development, acquisition, procurement, and logistics.{{cite news|title=President Donald J. Trump Announces Intent to Nominate Personnel to Key Administration Posts|url=https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2017/09/07/president-donald-j-trump-announces-key-additions-his-administration |access-date=20 October 2017|via=National Archives|work=whitehouse.gov|date=September 7, 2017}}{{PD-notice}}{{cite news|last1=Freedberg Jr. |first1=Sydney |title=Making T-Rex Run: Can SOCOM's Geurts Speed Up Navy Shipbuilding?|url=https://breakingdefense.com/2017/09/making-t-rex-run-can-socoms-geurts-speed-up-navy-shipbuilding/|access-date=20 October 2017|publisher=Breaking Defense|date=September 12, 2017}}{{cite web |url=https://www.congress.gov/nomination/115th-congress/1008|title=PN1008 — James F. Geurts — Department of Defense|date=November 16, 2017|website=U.S. Congress|access-date=22 November 2017}}

He previously served in the U.S. Special Operations Command as Deputy Director of Special Operations Research, Development and Acquisition Center, and as Commander of the Joint Acquisition Task Force Dragon. Geurts also served as Program Executive Officer for the Fixed Wing Aircraft at the U.S. Special Operations Command. He is a recipient of the Federal Executive of the Year Vanguard Award, Presidential Rank Award, William J. Perry Award, Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, Joint Service Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster, and Air Force Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster.

Geurts was commissioned a United States Air Force officer after graduating from Lehigh University's ROTC program in 1987. While in the Air Force, he managed programs involving intercontinental ballistic missiles, surveillance platforms, tactical fighter aircraft, advanced avionics systems, stealth cruise missiles, training systems, and crewed and uncrewed special operations aircraft. In 2009, he retired from the Air Force as a colonel.{{cite news|last1=Eckstein|first1=Megan|title=SOCOM's James Geurts Nominated to Serve as Navy Acquisition Chief; Modly Nominated as Under Secretary|url=https://news.usni.org/2017/09/11/socoms-james-geurts-nominated-serve-navy|access-date=20 October 2017|publisher=USNI News|date=September 11, 2017}} Geurts was the driving force behind ThunderDrone and SOFWERX, two military-civilian idea incubators in Florida. These incubators helped develop the Tactical Assault Light Operator Suit, which is a robotic exoskeleton suit.{{cite news|title=Trump taps SOCom executive to serve as assistant secretary in the U.S. Navy|url=http://www.tbo.com/news/military/trump-taps-socom-executive-to-serve-as-assistant-secretary-in-the-us-navy/2336721|access-date=20 October 2017|publisher=Tampa Bay Times|date=September 8, 2017|archive-date=21 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171021004435/http://www.tbo.com/news/military/trump-taps-socom-executive-to-serve-as-assistant-secretary-in-the-us-navy/2336721|url-status=dead}}

He stepped down from all government positions and formally retired in late August 2021.{{cite web|url=https://news.usni.org/2021/08/04/geurts-stepping-down-as-acting-navy-undersecretary-retiring-from-government|title=UPDATED: Geurts Stepping Down From Navy Under Secretary Role, Retiring From Government|date=2021-08-04|first=Mallory|last=Shellbourne|website=USNI News}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20170424102721/http://www.af.mil/About-Us/Biographies/Display/Article/108511/james-f-geurts/ Biography at U.S. Air Force]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20171231191024/http://www.navy.mil/navydata/bios/navybio.asp?bioID=1032 Biography at U.S. Navy]

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Category:Air Force Institute of Technology alumni

Category:Biden administration personnel

Category:Lehigh University alumni

Category:Living people

Category:National Defense University alumni

Category:First Trump administration personnel

Category:United States Air Force officers

Category:United States Assistant Secretaries of the Navy

Category:Year of birth missing (living people)