Jim Fraser

Jim Fraser joined Thales USA, Inc. as Vice President, Government Relations in April 2012.  His responsibilities include the development and execution of a comprehensive government relations strategy for the company in the United States. In this capacity, he will lead the company’s engagement with the legislative and executive branches of our federal government as well as with state and local entities and third party organizations.   

Before joining Thales, Mr. Fraser was Vice President, Political Relations and Compliance for BAE Systems, Inc.  In his 10 years with the company, he also served as Director of Legislative Affairs with responsibility for liaison with Members of Congress and their staffs on program and policy issues of importance to BAE Systems. 

Prior to joining BAE Systems, Mr. Fraser was a Naval Officer assigned to the Pentagon.  He retired in 2002 after serving over 23 years of active and reserve duty in the Navy.  At the Pentagon, Mr. Fraser served as the Director for Senate Affairs in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Legislative Affairs.  In addition to a wide range of responsibilities for all Senate issues, including political nominations, he also maintained primary responsibility for international security policy issues, including National Missile Defense, Cooperative Threat Reduction, Export Controls, Foreign Military Sales, and National Strategic Policy. 

Prior to this assignment, Mr. Fraser was a Senior Policy Advisor assigned to the Balkans Task Force in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy.  His duties for the Task Force included responsibility for policy review of NATO military planning for the Balkans, congressional liaison, and public affairs liaison.

Designated a Naval Aviator in March 1981, Mr. Fraser spent the majority of his active duty Naval career flying the P-3 Orion, specializing in anti-submarine warfare and surveillance.  Leaving active duty in November 1986, he affiliated with the Naval Reserve in Willow Grove, PA.  In April 1997, Mr. Fraser was recalled to active duty in support of Operation Joint Guard in Sarajevo, Bosnia.  In this assignment, he served as a Senior Staff Officer at Stabilization Force (SFOR) Headquarters, responsible for coordination of all P-3 overland surveillance and reconnaissance flights.  Following this tour, he was offered a full recall to active duty, bringing him to the Pentagon and his assignment in the Balkans Task Force.

Mr. Fraser has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Naval Academy and a Master of Arts Degree in Legislative Affairs from The George Washington University.