Committed to the people and the mission: A conversation with Jim Sears, ORAU senior vice president
When Jim Sears retired from the U.S. Air Force after 33 years of service, friends and mentors told him he would miss two things: the people and the mission. Since joining ORAU as senior vice president a year ago, Sears says those are the things that keep him coming to work every day. That "has really been better than I could have expected for my first step on this second mountain of a journey," he said during a recent interview for Further Together: The ORAU Podcast. In this episode Sears discusses his career journey, the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead in an ever-changing federal government landscape, why he and his wife moved to East Tennessee. and what brings him joy.
Jim Sears, senior vice president at ORAU, has spent the past year blending decades of military leadership with a new chapter in public service. With 33 years in the U.S. Air Force and a lifetime commitment to education, service and innovation, Sears brings a powerful mission-first mindset to his role—one that continues to shape ORAU’s evolving impact in science, health and education.
Growing up on a farm just north of Kansas City, Missouri, and inspired by a mix of practicality and pop culture—namely the 1986 hit film Top Gun—Sears pursued a path that led him to the Air Force Academy. Though his family had no military background, the academy instilled in him a sense of service that deeply resonated. “I really learned about being part of something bigger than myself,” he reflects.
That sense of purpose defined his career as he flew aircraft, led global operations, and dedicated a third of his time in the military to education and training. His journey took him and his family through 16 moves across the globe, ultimately setting the stage for his post-retirement mission: contributing to national security through education and workforce development.
“Post-secondary education and workforce development are national security imperatives,” Sears asserts. That belief, paired with a growing love for East Tennessee, brought him to ORAU. What he found during the interview process was more than a job. “I felt I had found a mission-driven organization,” he says. “That’s what really keeps me coming back every day.”
At ORAU, Sears leads with a clear-eyed view of the future. Amid shifts in federal priorities and the evolving needs of government clients, he sees agility and innovation as essential. “We’ve been asking what we want to look like on the other side of change,” he explains. “It starts with aligning behind the mission so we can respond faster and with greater precision.” Sears believes ORAU’s ability to bridge academia, industry and government is a rare strength and a key to its resilience.
He’s particularly passionate about two pillars of ORAU’s mission: developing subject matter experts and enhancing the health and resilience of people and communities. From early STEM education through post-doctoral research programs, Sears sees ORAU’s efforts as building the nation’s future workforce, especially in rapidly advancing sectors like nuclear energy and advanced manufacturing.
The second pillar, people and community resilience, is rooted in ORAU’s longstanding leadership in public health, emergency preparedness and exposure science. “There’s a deep relationship between who we are and where we live,” Sears says, emphasizing the organization's unique capacity to integrate science and service for national impact.
Sears is also helping guide ORAU’s expansion across four core capability areas: technological solutions, research support services, professional services, and training and education. “We don’t just solve problems,” he says. “We do it in a way that aligns with our mission and improves lives.”
Outside the office, Sears enjoys a more relaxed pace with his wife of several decades. Together, they cycle Tennessee’s scenic roads and make the most of a fully equipped home gym—a silver lining from her years in the fitness industry. They share pride in their two daughters, both serving the nation in health and defense sectors. He’s also a photography enthusiast, whiskey aficionado, and owner of a sports car that—while not supersonic—still provides a thrill.
When asked what brings him joy, Sears doesn’t hesitate. “Professionally, it’s watching people grow,” he says, pointing proudly to the success of former colleagues who’ve risen through the ranks. “Personally, it’s being surrounded by loved ones and meaningful relationships. Everything else is noise.”
Now, as he helps chart ORAU’s future, Jim Sears sees this role as a continuation of service. “This is the first step on the second mountain,” he says, referring to author David Brooks’ book, The Second Mountain, in which the author writes about finding purpose and meaning in service to others.
Sears is climbing that mountain with purpose, vision, and a passion for making a difference.