James G. Roche

Dr. James G. Roche is "the 20th Secretary of the Air Force. In this role, he is responsible for the affairs of the Department of the Air Force, including the organizing, training, equipping, and providing for the welfare of its nearly 370,000 men and women on active duty, 180,000 members of the Air National Guard and the Air Force Reserve, 160,000 civilians, and their families. As head of the Department of the Air Force, Secretary Roche is responsible for its functioning and efficiency, the formulation of its policies and programs, and the timely implementation of decisions and instructions of the President of the United States and the Secretary of Defense. With an annual budget of approximately $90 billion, he ensures the Air Force can meet its current and future operational requirements.

"Prior to this appointment, Secretary Roche held several executive positions with Northrop Grumman Corp., including Corporate Vice President and President, Electronic Sensors and Systems Sector. Prior to joining Northrop Grumman in 1984, he was Democratic Staff Director of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee.

"Secretary Roche's previous military service spanned 23 years in the U.S. Navy, retiring with the rank of captain in 1983. As a naval officer, his assignments included Principal Deputy Director of the State Department's Policy Planning Staff; Senior Professional Staff Member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence; and Assistant Director for the Defense Department's Office of Net Assessment. He commanded the USS Buchanan, a guided missile destroyer, and was awarded the Arleigh Burke Fleet Trophy for the Navy's most improved combat unit in the Pacific in 1974.

"Secretary Roche has served as a member of the Secretary of Defense's Defense Policy Board and is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and the International Institute for Strategic Studies. Dr. Roche has been awarded various campaign ribbons and military medals."

See remainder of Roche's Air Force biography for additional information.

"Roche served as Democratic Staff Director for the U.S. Senate Committee on Armed Services from 1983 to 1984 and as the State Department's principal deputy director of the policy planning staff. He was also a senior professional staff member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence from 1979 to 1981 and served as assistant director of the Office of Net Assessment in the Office of the Secretary of Defense from 1975 to 1979.

"Roche served in the Navy for 23 years and received an undergraduate degree from the Illinois Institute of Technology, a master's degree from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School and a doctorate from the Harvard Graduate School of Business."