Captain James F. Buckley graduated from Loyola University of Chicago with a Bachelor of Science in Biology, and holds a Master of Science Degree in National Resource Strategy from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces. He was commissioned an Ensign in November 1985 via the Aviation Officer Candidate Program. He began primary flight training at NAS Whiting Field, Milton, FL in January 1986 and was designated a Naval Aviator in November 1986.
A career aviator with over 3,900 pilot hours, his operational tours include: Patrol Squadron FIFTY-SIX, NAS Jacksonville, FL; USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63), home-ported in San Diego, CA where he served as a Catapult & Arresting Gear Officer, Flight Deck Division Officer (V-1) and qualified as a Command Duty Officer (Underway). His department head tour was with Patrol Squadron SIXTEEN, NAS Jacksonville, FL. Captain Buckley commanded Patrol Squadron EIGHT, NAS Brunswick, ME. During his tour with the "Fighting Tigers", the squadron deployed to Sigonella, Sicily ISO of OEF/OIF, El Salvador ISO of SOUTHCOM's war on drugs and Misawa and Okinawa, Japan ISO of C7F participating in OEF-Philippines, and the Asian tsunami relief efforts.
Ashore, Captain Buckley served as the Operational Test Director for the MK-50 Advanced Lightweight Torpedo and AGM-65F Maverick Missile System at Air Test and Evaluation Squadron ONE, NAS Patuxent River, MD; Aviation Maintenance Officer at Patrol Squadron THIRTY, NAS Jacksonville, FL. Major staff tours include the Bureau of Navy Personnel in Millington, TN where he served as the Special Assistant for Selection Board Matters (PERS-45), Office of the Secretary of Defense, Program Analysis and Evaluation Directorate as the senior military analyst in the Irregular Warfare Division, and most recently the Director of the Innovation and Systems Engineering Directorate at the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, Fort Belvoir, VA.
EMAIL: james.buckley@ndu.edu
