James G. Roche facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
James Roche
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| 20th United States Secretary of the Air Force | |
| In office June 1, 2001 – January 20, 2005 |
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| President | George W. Bush |
| Preceded by | F. Whitten Peters |
| Succeeded by | Peter B. Teets (Acting) |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
James Gerard Roche
December 16, 1939 New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Education | Illinois Institute of Technology (BA) Naval Postgraduate School (MS) Harvard University (DBA) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1960–1983 |
| Rank | Captain |
James Gerard Roche, born on December 16, 1939, is an American politician. He was the 20th Secretary of the Air Force from 2001 to 2005. Before this important role, Mr. Roche spent 23 years in the United States Navy. He also worked as a leader at Northrop Grumman, a big aerospace company.
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James Roche was born in Brooklyn, New York. He joined the United States Navy and served for 23 years. When he retired in 1983, he held the rank of Captain.
During his time in the Navy, he had many important jobs. He helped plan policies for the U.S. State Department. He also worked with the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, which deals with important national security information.
Mr. Roche also led a guided missile destroyer ship called the USS Buchanan. In 1974, his ship won the Arleigh Burke Fleet Trophy. This award is given to the Navy's most improved combat unit in the Pacific Ocean.
Working at Northrop Grumman
After his Navy career, Mr. Roche worked for Northrop Grumman Corp. This is a large company that builds aircraft and defense systems. He held several leadership positions there.
Before joining Northrop Grumman in 1984, he worked for the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee. He was the Democratic Staff Director, helping the committee with its work.
Leading the Air Force
As Secretary of the Air Force, James Roche was a member of the Secretary of Defense's Policy Board. This group helps make important decisions about defense. He was also part of the Council of Foreign Relations and the International Institute of Strategic Studies. These groups study global issues and strategies.
Mr. Roche received many awards and medals for his service in the military.
An Important Investigation
In 2003, an investigation looked into a situation involving Mr. Roche. This happened during discussions about replacing KC-135 aircraft with new KC-767 tanker planes.
During this time, an official named Ms. Robin Cleveland asked Mr. Roche for help finding a job at Northrop Grumman. Mr. Roche had previously worked as a senior leader at Northrop Grumman. He agreed to help her and replied using government communication channels.
An investigation found that Mr. Roche had used his government position to help someone find a job. This was seen as a concern regarding the proper use of his office. However, the investigation did not suggest any specific actions be taken against him. The Secretary of Defense at the time, Donald Rumsfeld, decided not to pursue the matter further.
His Education
- 1960: He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in language, literature, and philosophy from the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago.
- 1966: He received a Master of Science degree with honors in operations research from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California.
- 1972: He earned a Doctorate degree in business administration from Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
- 2002: He received an Honorary Doctorate from the Illinois Institute of Technology.
- 2003: He received an Honorary Doctorate from St. Thomas Aquinas College in Sparkill, New York.
Career Timeline
- 1960–1983: He served as a commissioned officer in the United States Navy, retiring as a captain.
- 1983–1984: He was the Democratic Staff Director for the Senate Armed Services Committee in Washington, D.C..
- 1984–1989: He worked as vice president and director of the Analysis Center at Northrop Grumman Corp. in Washington, D.C.
- 1989–1991: He was vice president and special assistant to the chairman, president, and chief executive officer at Northrop Grumman Corp. in Los Angeles, California.
- 1991–1992: He served as vice president of Advanced Development and Planning at Northrop Grumman Corp. in Los Angeles, California.
- 1992–1996: He was the Chief Advanced Development, Planning, and Public Affairs Officer at Northrop Grumman Corp. in Los Angeles, California.
- 1996–2001: He was corporate vice president and president of the Electronic Sensors & Systems Sector at Northrop Grumman Corp. in Baltimore, Maryland.
- 2001–2005: He served as the Secretary of the Air Force in Washington, D.C.
Awards and Recognition
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit
Navy Commendation Medal
Navy Expeditionary Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Vietnam Service Medal
United States Navy Distinguished Public Service Medal- 2003: Department of the Army Distinguished Civilian Service Award
- 2003: Illinois Institute of Technology Professional Achievement Award
- 2003: U.S. Air Force Order of the Sword
