James Slay Jr., Executive Director
James Slay brings over 30 years of disciplined leadership and a “people-first” philosophy to his role as Executive Director. A retired U.S. Navy Senior Chief Petty Officer with 26 years of honorable service, James spent his military career fostering mission readiness and
accountability (5 Naval Warships, 2 tours as a Navy Boot Camp facilitator and Center for Naval Engineering facilitator) notably overseeing 24,000 monthly maintenance checks aboard the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71). His legacy is defined by the
hundreds of Sailors he mentored, a commitment to growth that he continues today.
Since transitioning to civilian leadership, James has specialized in complex restructuring and strategic development for Naval Training Commands, guiding diverse teams through high-level budget strategies and conflict resolution. Beyond his professional life, James
serves as an Elder for the North Shore Church of Christ, where his work-stretching from Illinois to Guam-reflects his deep commitment to faith and community service. Known for
his trademark question, “How can I help you be successful?”, James leverages his “CanDo” attitude to build esprit de corps and drive sustainable impact. A native of Canton,
Ohio, James lives in Grayslake with his wife, Ama, and their blended family of five.