Jim began his Naval career in 1967 as an enlisted graduate of Underwater Demolition Training in California. Assigned to UDT-12, he made two deployments to Vietnam to conduct hydrographic reconnaissance missions and related amphibious operations. He was accepted to Officer Candidate School and was commissioned in 1976. Returning to UDT-12, he deployed as an Assistant Platoon Officer. He was assigned to SEAL Team ONE and deployed as a Platoon Commander. While deployed he was tasked as the Unconventional Warfare subject matter expert for an MTT instructing command and control of Thia U/W forces and as a member of a survey team prepping for a multi-lateral amphibious exercise on Iwo Jima. Later assignments include Operations Officer, Special Boat Unit ELEVEN, staff officer at Naval Special Warfare Group ONE, Maritime Defense Sector and Special Operations Command. Jim, as a senior officer, was assigned as Commanding Officer, Special Boat Unit 22 and staff officer at the Pentagon. He retired in 2003 from the Inspector General of the Navy’s staff. In retirement, he was senior NJROTC Instructor at two high schools and a geography instructor at a local community college. Jim and his wife settled in WNC in 2016.