James F. Geurts, a member of the Senior Executive Service, is the Acquisition Executive, U.S. Special Operations Command, MacDill Air Force Base, Florida.  He is responsible for all special operations forces research, development, acquisition, procurement and logistics. 

Mr. Geurts, a native of Charleston, South Carolina, entered the Air Force in 1987 as a distinguished graduate from the Lehigh University ROTC program, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering.  He has served as an acquisition program manager with engineering and program management leadership positions in numerous weapon systems including intercontinental ballistic missiles, surveillance platforms, tactical fighter aircraft, advanced avionics systems, stealth cruise missiles, training systems, and manned and unmanned special operations aircraft.  He commanded an Acquisition Group, served as the Program Executive Officer for Fixed Wing Programs at USSOCOM, and was Commander, Joint Acquisition Task Force Dragon, an elite team of USSOCOM and Service acquisition personnel responsible for executing USSOCOM’s most urgent acquisitions in response to wartime Critical Mission Needs Statements.  He retired from the Air Force in the rank of Colonel in Jul 2009 after more than 21 years of active duty.  Prior to his current assignment, he was the Deputy Director, Special Operations Research, Development, and Acquisition Center, U.S. Special Operations Command, MacDill Air Force Base, Florida.

He is married to the former Kelly Sprout and they have two sons, Jimmy and Brandon.  He is an endurance sport enthusiast, having completed multiple Ironman, endurance swims, and marathons.
EDUCATION
1987 Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering, Lehigh University, Pa.
1992 Distinguished graduate, Master of Science degree in electrical engineering, Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
1993 Distinguished graduate, Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
1999 Advanced Program Managers Course, Defense Systems Management College, Fort Belvoir, Va.
2004 Master of Science degree in national security resourcing, Industrial College of the Armed Forces, National Defense University, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
2004 Senior Acquisition Course, Defense Acquisition University, Fort Belvoir, Va.
2005 Executive Program Management Course, Defense Systems Management College, Fort Belvoir, Va.
2007 National Security Studies Program, Elliot School of International Affairs, George Washington University, Washington, D.C.

CAREER CHRONOLOGY
1. 1988 - 1991, Basing Systems Program Manager, Small ICBM Program Office, Ballistic Missile Office, Norton AFB, Calif.
2. 1991 - 1992, student, School of Engineering, Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
3. 1993 - 1994, Data Link Chief Engineer, Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System Joint Program Office, Hanscom AFB, Mass.
4. 1994 - 1995, executive officer, Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System JPO, Hanscom AFB, Mass.
5. 1995 - 1996, Chief, Plans and Programs, Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System JPO, Hanscom AFB, Mass.
6. 1996 - 1997, Airborne Warning and Control System Program Element Monitor, Information Dominance Directorate, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Acquisition), the Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
7. 1997 - 1999, Chief, Airborne Ground Surveillance Programs and Joint STARS Program Element Monitor, Information Dominance Directorate, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Acquisition), the Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
8. 1999 - 2000, X-35 Chief Systems Integrator, Joint Strike Fighter JPO, Arlington, Va.
9. 2000 - 2001, X-35 Deputy Program Manager and then X-35 Program Manager, Joint Strike Fighter JPO, Arlington, Va.
10. 2001 - 2003, F-35 Mission Systems IPT Lead, Joint Strike Fighter JPO, Arlington, Va.
11. 2003 - 2004, student, Industrial College of the Armed Forces, National Defense University, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
12. 2004 -2004, Commander, Area Attack Systems Group, Air Armament Center, Eglin AFB, Fla.
13. 2004 - 2006, Commander, 308th Armament Systems Group, AAC, Eglin AFB, Fla.
14. 2006 -2009, Program Executive Officer - Fixed Wing Aircraft, SOCOM Acquisition and Logistics Center, U.S. Special Operations Command, MacDill AFB, Fla.
15. 2009 - 2009, Commander, Joint Acquisition Task Force - Dragon, SOCOM Acquisition and Logistics Center, U.S. Special Operations Command, MacDill AFB, Fla.
16. 2009 - 2013, Deputy Director, Special Operations Research, Development and Acquisition Center, U.S. Special Operations Command, MacDill AFB, Fla.
17. 2013 - present, Deputy for Acquisition, Special Operations Research, Development, and Acquisition Center, U.S. Special Operations Command, MacDill AFB, Fla.

AWARDS AND HONORS
Defense Distinguished 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
Air Force Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster

OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
1992 AFCEA Research Excellence Award for Academic Achievement
1992 Air Force Louis F Polk Award for Outstanding Leadership and Academic Achievement
1992 Distinguished Graduate, Air Force Institute of Technology
1993 Distinguished Graduate, Squadron Officers School
2005 Air Force Outstanding Military System Program Manager of the Year
2008 DOD Advanced Concept Technology Demonstration Program Transition Team of the Year
2015 Presidential Rank Award, Meritorious Executive, Department of the Air Force
2015 Top Business Influencer for Tampa Bay
2016 William J. Perry Award
2016 Federal Executive of the Year, Vanguard Award

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND ASSOCIATIONS
Defense Acquisition Corps
National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA)
Air Force Association (AFA)
SOF Warrior Foundation

(Current as of January 2017)