Business Executives For National Security James Whitaker

James Whitaker

Vice President of Integration

James currently serves as Vice President of Integration, where he drives cross-organizational coordination and oversees the creation of high-impact deliverables that advance BENS’ mission to strengthen U.S. national security. In this capacity, he ensures seamless collaboration across teams, aligning strategic initiatives with the organization’s goals to deliver meaningful results for its members and partners.

Previously, James was the Vice President for Emerging Challenges, facilitating member efforts to identify and address emergent issues affecting U.S. security. These initiatives were supported by BENS’s various councils and aimed to complement and reinforce BENS’s partnerships across the National Security Enterprise.

Before that, James served as a BENS Policy Director and later led internal and external communications as the Director for Strategic Communications. In that role, he was responsible for amplifying member expertise to stakeholders and served as the organization’s principal content and media specialist. As a Policy Director, James managed projects related to energy security and initiatives aimed at increasing efficiency within U.S. defense and security agencies. His work included BENS’s seminal report on military microgrids and the military compensation series.

James began his career as a campaign field director and then as a legislative staffer for U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill before joining the Truman National Security Project. While on the senator’s legislative staff, he worked on energy, environmental, trade policy, and other key issues.