James R. Cliffy Cluff

James R. “Cliffy” Cluff is a founding partner and Chief Operating Officer of SOAR BEYOND, LLC, a woman/disabled veteran-owned consulting firm with expertise in logistics operations, supply chain management, unmanned aviation, intelligence operations, strategic planning and corporate leadership training. Brigadier General Cluff’s United States Air Force career spanned nearly 30 years, beginning with his graduation from the United States Air Force Academy in 1991. His first assignment was as a squadron intelligence officer, supporting fighter aircraft operations during training as well as combat deployments. He attended pilot training in 1995 and flew the F-16 Fighting Falcon during assignments to South Carolina, South Korea and Japan, including numerous combat deployments. In the later half of his military service, he was the Air Force’s senior leader in the field of Remotely Piloted Aircraft and airborne intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance operations. In his last assignment on active duty, he served as the Joint Chiefs of Staff senior expert on all matters pertaining to airborne and sensitive reconnaissance operations. James is a Principal at the consulting firm Deep Water Point in Annapolis, Maryland, and an Adjunct Research Staff Member at the Institute for Defense Analyses in Alexandria, Virginia. He has extensive experience in the field of aviation safety and serves as an Adjunct Instructor in the Aviation Department at Montana State University’s Gallatin College. He is an FAA-certified small Unmanned Aircraft Systems pilot.