Jim Knotts

Jim Knotts is the president and chief executive officer of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (VVMF), the nonprofit organization that built The Wall in 1982. He is an Air Force veteran of the Persian Gulf War and a graduate of the Air Force Academy.

He now leads the effort at VVMF to honor the service and sacrifices of Vietnam veterans – those who sacrificed all, those who served, and those who waited for the service members to return – as well as those who serve today. Preserving the legacy of service from generation to generation – from Vietnam to the Persian Gulf War, to Iraq and Afghanistan – is Jim’s personal commitment and a part of the ongoing education efforts of VVMF.

Prior to his leadership role at VVMF, Jim served five years as the CEO of Operation Homefront, a national nonprofit that provides emergency financial and other assistance to the families of service members and wounded warriors. During his tenure, the organization grew dramatically in number of people assisted, diversity of programs, and financial support. The organization was chosen to advise the Secretary of Defense on a nonprofit roundtable.

Jim previously worked in industry at Lockheed Martin headquarters, where he was director of corporate citizenship, including philanthropy and community outreach, and director of web communications.

During his almost 10 years in the Air Force, his career spanned service in the Persian Gulf War, at the headquarters of U.S. Southern Command, and in the Pentagon on the Office of the Secretary of Defense Staff.

Jim is a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy (B.S.), the University of South Carolina (M.M.C.), and Strayer University (M.B.A.).