Lieutenant General Larry D. James is a former senior officer in the United States Air Force and is currently a civilian NASA administrator.

This includes managing the Laboratory's solar system exploration, Mars, astronomy, physics, Earth science, interplanetary network programs, and all business operations.

Prior to his current role, he served as the Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance, Headquarters United States Air Force.

He also served as the Senior Space Officer for Operation Iraqi Freedom at Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia.

James retired from the Air Force on August 1, 2013,[3] and assumed the role of deputy director of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory on September 23, 2013.