Personal Mission Statement:“To be an excellence driven servant leader and passionate mentor positively impacting the lives of our next generation of leaders.”Michael L. James, Lieutenant Colonel, United States Air Force, Retired served in the United States Air Force for over 24 years in various roles ranging from project management, leadership development, talent management, aerospace operations, research and development, acquisitions and procurement, and military intelligence.Colonel James has a passion for all things financial and a particular interest in economic empowerment for historically and systematically disenfranchised communities of color.He is currently pursuing a PhD in Leadership and Change with an emphasis in Public Policy and Social Change from Antioch University.Colonel James received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Mississippi State University. He earned a Master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA) from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and an additional Master’s degree in Strategic Studies from the United States Air Force Air War College.Having spent the last couple of decades focused on “making a living”, he is now laser-focused on “making a difference.”His current doctoral research focus area is financial literacy policy that targets historically disenfranchised communities of color and its resulting impact on socioeconomic mobility.The desired research outcome is innovative private and public sector policy recommendations focused on reducing and/or eliminating economic disparities that exist between and among historically disenfranchised communities of color and the broader American populace.Colonel James’ personal mission statement is “To be an excellence driven servant leader and passionate mentor positively impacting the lives of our next generation of leaders.”Embedded in his personal mission statement is the desire to inspire and uplift through mentorship.