Major General (Ret'd) Jim Sears

Former Deputy Commander, Air Education and Training Command US Air Force

Maj. Gen. James R. "Jim" Sears Jr., USAF (Ret.) is a retired Air Force major general with more than 33 years of leadership experience spanning operational aviation, test and evaluation, and military training and education. A command pilot with over 3,500 flight hours, he flew the C-130, F-16, T-38C, and F-35, as well as numerous other aircraft throughout his career, and served in multiple command assignments across the Air Force. General Sears culminated his Air Force service as the Deputy Commander of Air Education and Training Command (AETC), where he helped lead a $9 billion enterprise responsible for recruiting, training, and educating the next generation of Airmen and Guardians. Prior to AETC, he commanded the Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center (AFOTEC), overseeing independent operational testing of the Air Force's most critical weapon systems. His leadership experience also includes commanding the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing in Afghanistan, serving as Special Assistant to the NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe, and leading organizations responsible for pilot training, technical training, and force development across the Department of the Air Force. He is a graduate of the United States Air Force Academy and holds a Master of Science in Strategy and Campaign Planning from the National Defense University. General Sears retired in 2024 to East Tennessee and now leads JSears Leadership LLC, focusing on board governance and executive consulting at the seam of national security and national infrastructure — defense, energy, and the science enterprise that underwrites both.