James F. McGovern

Secretary of the Air Force

Class of 1969

• Secretary of the Air Force (acting), 1988 - 1989

Biography

James F. McGovern from Dayton, OH graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy (B.S., 1969) and Georgetown University Law Center (J.D., 1978). He was on active duty with the U.S. Navy, from 1969 to 1979. In 1979 started serving in the U.S. Marine Corps (Reserve) as a lieutenant colonel.

He was an attorney with the Washington law firm of Dickstein, Shapiro and Morin from 1978 until 1981. After which, he was general counsel to the Senate Committee on Armed Services under the chairmanship of Senator John Tower from 1981 to 1982.

He was nominated as Under Secretary of the Air Force September 1986, and served as Acting Secretary of the Air Force from Dec. 16, 1988 until April 29, 1989.