James Smith serves as a Senior Advisor to The Chertoff Group, where he provides strategic counsel to the firm’s Security Risk & Resilience practice.
He currently holds the position of Vice President, Security & Emergency Management at New York-Presbyterian, a role he assumed following his retirement from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in 2024. In this capacity, he provides strategic direction and executive oversight for the Security and Emergency Management Departments across the healthcare system’s multiple campuses and Medical Groups.
Jim brings over two decades of executive-level experience in national security, cybersecurity, criminal investigations, and intelligence operations gained through his distinguished career with the FBI and broader intelligence community. His senior leadership roles included serving as FBI Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Office and Special Agent in Charge of the Houston Field Office. Throughout his FBI career, Jim held various critical management positions at FBI Headquarters in Washington, D.C., as well as the San Antonio and Los Angeles Field Offices.
His operational experience includes deployment to Baghdad, Iraq in 2008, where he supported the FBI’s counterterrorism mission in a high-threat environment. Jim also served as a member of the FBI-Los Angeles SWAT team, demonstrating his tactical expertise and commitment to frontline operations.
Prior to his federal law enforcement career, Jim spent 13 years in the commercial aviation industry, serving as an Aircraft Engine Maintenance Manager and Powerplant Engineer for Northwest Airlines, ATA Airlines and Pratt & Whitney.
Jim serves on the Board of Directors for the New York City Law Enforcement Explorers Program, where he works on outreach to young men and women from the city’s many diverse communities and helps develop the next generation of law enforcement professionals. In addition to his board service, he also serves on the organization’s Finance Committee.
Jim holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University. He is a native of Holliston, Massachusetts.