Jim served in the U.S. Army from 1984-1987 and was part of the 269th Aviation Battalion XVIII Airborne Corps - Combat Helicopter Unit. At his last position, he was a Complex Assemblies Team Leader for RbM Services in Oak Ridge, TN. He has a lot of experience with electronics and has certifications in Design Drafting Technology and Generator and Power Plant Operations.

In his free time, Jim enjoys military history and research, hiking, photography, and helping his wife with her horse while attending horse shows. He has been married to his wife, Stacey, for 20 years and they have two children. They have a 34 year old son named Donavan and a 30 year old daughter named Nicole. They have two dogs and one horse in their family as well.