Jim Putnam

AT-Large
Term Expires 12-31-2028

Col. James “Jim” Putnam (ret.), was appointed effective March of 2017 by Governor Mary Fallin as an At-Large Commissioner. Putnam served over 27 years in the Air Force as a munitions and aircraft maintenance officer and later as a major acquisition program manager.  His experience included a wide variety of tactical aircraft weapons systems.  He retired as the host base Inspector General for Tinker Air Force Base. 

He commanded maintenance squadrons four times, was a deputy group commander and twice took his squadron to win the Tactical Air Command Maintenance Effectiveness Award.  Putnam served in 26 different positions at 12 air bases, including three overseas tours.  He has led a wide variety of organizations from shop, branch, squadron, group, senior academic instructor, to division chief in two Air Logistics Centers.  Putnam retired from the Air Force at the rank of Colonel in December 1999.

Putnam then pursued a career with the Northrop Grumman Corporation serving 14 years in another wide variety of assignments dealing with logistics and program management. He worked with the F-18, a classified radar project, direct support of a Navy Test Squadron, and spent the majority of his time working on the B-2 Stealth Bomber program.  He retired from Northrop Grumman in December of 2013.

Putnam has a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering from the United States Air Force Academy, and a Master’s Degree in Aviation Management (Summa Cum Laude) from Embry -Riddle Aeronautical University.  He is a graduate of the Air Command and Staff College, and the Air War College (Seminar, Outstanding rating), and of the Defense Systems Management University.  He has a Department of Defense level 3 certification in Acquisition Program Management and a level 2 in Acquisition Logistics.