Over James Carver’s 34-year military career, he managed portfolios, led large teams, and of course, served as an exceptional naval aviator.
James spent much of his military career in Patuxent River, Maryland, first as a Commanding Officer/Chief Test Pilot for Air Test and Evaluation Squadron 23 under the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division. Then, he became the Deputy Program Manager of the PMA-234, Airborne Electronic Attack team under NAVAIR. Finally, he led NAVAIR’s largest Foreign Military Sales (FMS) portfolio in support of 40 foreign partner customers and 226 Foreign Military cases valued at $8.5B.
“I spent a total of 11 years of my 34-year career in PAX River. During my time there I am most proud of the work we did for the future of Naval Aviation at VX-23. The Salty Dogs of VX-23 are a phenomenal team of professionals that were responsible for innovations in Aircraft Carrier operations to include systems such as Magic Carpet, Advanced Arresting Gear (AAG) and Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS). The team there during my time as Chief Test Pilot and Commanding Officer brought these systems to the fleet.”
After serving in the Navy, James Carver transitioned to industry by joining COLSA as a Capture Manager in the Business Development department. At COLSA, his main goal is to help the company grow, and he continually brings new opportunities to COLSA’s pipeline.
Education Beyond the Field
Beyond James’ experience in the field, he holds multiple degrees. James earned his Bachelor of Science in Electronic Engineering (Summa Cum Laude no less) from the University of Memphis.
He progressed to the University of Tennessee (Go Vols!) to earn his Master of Science in Aviation Systems Engineering. Finally, he earned a Master of Art degree in Military Art and Science from Air Command and Staff College at Air University at Maxwell Air Force Base (AFB).
Why COLSA
When James began searching for companies to join to grow his post-military career, he started to learn about COLSA. He said he heard about our culture and how we put people first, and he wanted to be part of a company like that.
“Working at COLSA really doesn’t feel like work at all because I am treated like a family member. We all work together for a common goal which is to support the warfighter and protect our nation. When you are surrounded by people that make you feel like you are part of the family, it’s just fun!”
James brings resilience and perseverance to his work, and it shows. He’s committed to doing everything with a diligent, engaging, and decisive mindset, so he’s gained a reputation for being a dependable teammate.
More About James Carver
James is a huge sports fan, avidly following the University of Tennessee football and basketball teams. He also loves visiting the beach and intentionally visits 2-3 times a year. His favorite beach is Ponce Inlet, Florida. He also loves golf and participates in many of the local golf tournaments supporting nonprofits in Huntsville, Alabama.
Fun fact: If you know James Carver from his naval career, you might know him by his call sign “Cooter.” The name was given to him due to his southern accent and is a reference to Ben Jones’ famous character in the show “Dukes of Hazzard.”
