Daniel James III (September 7, 1945 – August 1, 2017) was a lieutenant general in the United States Air Force who served as the director of the Air National Guard from June 3, 2002, to May 20, 2006.

James was born in Tuskegee, Alabama, in 1945.,[1] his father was Air Force General Daniel "Chappie" James Jr.[2] He held a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from the University of Arizona, Tucson, and graduated from the Air Command and Staff College in 1981 and the National Security Management Course in 1992.

James flew 500 combat hours in Southeast Asia and earned two Distinguished Flying Crosses.

He was the first African American to become the director of the Air National Guard.

[4] He received both Baptist and Catholic funeral services and was interred at Arlington National Cemetery.