James Africano

James Africano's work experience includes a variety of roles in both the military and private sector. James is currently the Managing Partner at Regolith Ventures, a position they have held since April 2021. Prior to this role, they served as the IMA Director of Innovation Contracts at the United States Air Force starting in August 2021. James also co-founded SBIR Advisors Inc. in August 2020.

From 2019 to 2021, they worked for the United States Space Force as the Chief of Space Warfare and Control Contracts. In this role, they oversaw a portfolio of $350 million in support of Space Domain Awareness and Offensive Space Control. James was also a key leader on multi-functional teams responsible for delivering cutting-edge space technology to the warfighter.

Before joining the Space Force, James served as a Special Operations - Contracting Officer for USSOCOM from October 2018 to September 2019. Prior to that, they had roles within the United States Air Force as the Flight Chief of Base Operations Contracts from October 2016 to October 2018, and as the Infrastructure Support Contract Manager from March 2015 to October 2016.

James Africano attended the United States Air Force Academy from 2009 to 2013. During this time, they completed their Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Behavioral Sciences, with a focus on Human Factors.