James Swartout is an executive at the MITRE Corporation’s National Security Sector where he serves as the Director of Integration and Plans. Before coming to MITRE, Swartout served as the Chief of Staff to the Secretary of the Air Force and was a member of the Senior Executive Service. In the Air Force he also served as Senior Advisor to the Secretary of the Air Force and the Under Secretary of the Air Force. In 2015, Swartout was the Spokesperson and Senior Advisor to the Secretary of Defense during Ash Carter’s Senate confirmation and transition back to the Pentagon.