This post is based on an interview with Dr. James N. Miller. It is part of our series of interviews of OODA Network members. Our objective with these interviews is to provide actionable information of interest to the community, including insights that can help with your own career progression. We also really like highlighting some of the great people that make our continued research and reporting possible.  For the full series see: OODA Expert Network Bio Series.

Career Progression:   Jim grew up in Iowa and expected he would attend the University of Iowa when he graduated.  That winter, however, his hometown experienced the coldest winter on record.  On a whim, with dreams of better weather, he dashed off an application to Stanford.  He was shocked when he got accepted, and even more stunned when his father said he would pay for it.  Off he went to California to study Economics.  An avid tennis player, Jim decided to try to walk onto the Stanford Tennis Team – an extremely prestigious group of world-class experts led by the famous tennis coach Dick Gould.  He was incredulous when he got a spot on the team – Jim sums it up: “Good thing I didn’t know these things were impossible or I would never have tried!”.

While at Stanford, Jim took an early class in computer programming, learning Pascal in the beginning of the non-punch card era. He developed an interest in BioStatistics, transferring to Harvard University to study under the visionary pioneer in the field, Dr. Frederick Mosteller.  Jim became interested in how biases in medical studies can impact treatment choices and patients’ health.  After he passed his oral and written exams, Jim struggled to narrow down a dissertation topic.  An opportunity dropped into his lap: a full funded fellowship in Science and International Affairs.  He was able to weave together his biostatistical background with large scale public policy issues.  He stayed at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government until he attained his Ph. D. in Public Policy three years later.  His dissertation was titled “Approaching Zero: Evaluation of Deep Cuts in Superpower Nuclear Arsenals”.   This was in 1988, the height of the Cold War.  President Reagan had recently rolled out his Star Wars missile defense program, and then met with Soviet President Gorbachev in Reykjavik, Iceland to discuss abolishing all nuclear weapons.

Jim was recruited by Les Aspin, Chairman of the Armed Services Committee right out of Harvard. “When a big wave comes along, ride it!” Jim advises!  And he did. He started working on missile defense and nuclear issues.  He was able to slide into a procurement subcommittee.  He eventually landed a spot on the research and development side.  This was a great opportunity for him to learn about government:  from policy making, to acquisition, to the investments needed for future capabilities.

Jim was in the middle of U. S. policy decisions and recalls visiting the Soviet Union in 1991 while it was rapidly dissolving. “It was astonishing to watch.  While there I purchased a military cap for each of the USSR military branches – from the senior officers themselves. Things were changing very quickly!” Jim recalls.

His mentor, Les Aspin, was recruited to take the Secretary of Defense position.  This was a great time for Jim to slow things down a bit and reconnect with his growing family.  He took a position at Duke University as an Assistant Professor where he taught for five years.

In 1997, Dr. Jim was called back into Public Service to serve as Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Department of Defense under William Cohen.  He had a great staff of subject matter experts and was able to make a difference at a senior level.  He loved the job and held it for three years.

Hicks and Associates brought Jim onboard in 2000, where he stood up a new Adaptive Red Team capability for the Department of Defense. He enjoyed assembling expert teams of surrogate adversaries emulating regional powers’ decision-making, and providing a competitive analysis of key DoD policies and plans.  The world changed suddenly on September 11^th, 2001, where asymmetric threats came center stage, providing a whole new type of problem set to analyze.

Jim worked with colleagues to stand up a new non-profit think tank, the Center for a New American Security, in 2007.  He returned to the Department of Defense in 2009 under the Obama Administration where he served as Principal Deputy Under Secretary and then Under Secretary for Policy.

Today, Jim runs a consultancy, Adaptative Strategies LLC where he can focus on things that he enjoys working on, including advising clients on current trends and future opportunities.  He also enjoys his Defense Science Board assignments, and writing articles with colleagues including recent OODA interviewee Neal Pollard.  Oh, and he took up tennis competitively again!

Surprises: “Every career turn has been a significant surprise to me.” Jim states.   “Additionally, I’ve seen two big strategic surprises.  First, the way in which social media and the world wide web has impacted human freedom and democracy.  They have become tools of disruption and tools of authoritarianism and repression.  This isn’t across the board, but I didn’t see that coming. That was a blind spot and now we are behind the power curve both technically and in our national communication strategies. Second, I’m surprised we have seen so little use of biological weapons. I don’t think we should count on this not to last forever.”

Risks in the near future: “Defending our democracy from truth decay and the decline of bipartisanship is our most pressing National risk.” Dr. Jim says.

Technologies of interest:  Jim is a Sci-Fi fan, and watches all technologies related to space exploration, especially as it pertains to National Security.  Additionally, he’s interested in cyber, bio and nano technologies and how artificial intelligence and machine learning will reshape our National Security.

Advice for Decision Makers: “First:  Know your stuff but know your limits.” Dr. Jim advises.  “As a decision maker on a given topic, you should study and understand your portfolio.  But you need to understand that many people, some in the room with you, know more about it than you do.  Include them in your thinking and your decision making.  Second: know the difference between times when you need to push through a solution and times when you need to ‘red team’ it to uncover risks.  And Third:  It’s fundamentally important to empower your team.  Think about how to build teams that have the courage and ability to take risks.”

Views on Thought Leaders:  Jim has worked with many great leaders but recalls two in particular who helped shape him:  Dr. Alexander George, a leader in political science with a deep knowledge of history, who helped bridge the gap between theory and practice and pushed for fact-based analysis and reality-grounded policies.   Also, Jim has been inspired by U. S. Representative Jim Langevin, a quadriplegic representing Rhode Island who is one of the Nation’s best thinkers and doers on cyber issues.

Quick Hits:

• Book Recommendation:  Sandworm: A New Era of Cyberwar and the Hunt for the Kremlin’s Most Dangerous Hackers by Andy Greenberg.
• Favorite piece of content on OODAloop: Jim uses OODA’s platform to maintain a high level of situational awareness in many fields related to Cyber.
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-n-miller-ab09b788/