Gen. (Ret.) James “Spider” Marks

James A. “Spider” Marks is the President of The Marks Collaborative, an advisory firm dedicated to the development and transformation of corporate leaders and their organizations.

Since retiring from the military, where he attained the rank of Major General, General Marks has continued his engagement in national security as an on-air military and intelligence contributor to CNN and as a keynote speaker and author addressing our dynamic geopolitical environment. In addition to his corporate leadership development enterprise, Marks has led many business ventures to include entrepreneurial efforts in education, IT, energy, and primary research. He served as the President and CEO of Global Linguist Solutions, a private company that provided linguistics services to the U.S. military in Iraq and was the largest employer of native Iraqis. He was the Executive Dean, University of Phoenix, and served as the principal military advisor to its President. He is an adjunct professor at Georgetown University and sits on several boards including Academy Securities, Sparta Science, and the Activision Blizzard Call Of Duty Endowment. General Marks is a member of the Military Intelligence Hall of Fame.

General Marks spent over 30 years in the United States Army holding every command position from infantry platoon leader to commanding general.  He was the senior intelligence officer for Joint Task Force Los Angeles during the LA Riots and served as a strategist on the personal staff of the Chief of Staff of the Army. General Marks was the senior intelligence officer in the Balkans and Korea.  He was the senior intelligence officer in combat for the Coalition Land Forces Liberation of Iraq, Operation Iraqi Freedom. He culminated his career as the Commanding General of the US Army Intelligence Center and School at Fort Huachuca, Arizona. General Marks has been awarded the Distinguished Service Medal, the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit with Oak leaf cluster, Bronze Star, and multiple combats, expeditionary, and service ribbons.  He is a Master parachutist authorized to wear Canadian and Korean Airborne wings, Air Assault qualified, and an Honor Graduate of the US Army’s Ranger School.

General Marks has a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering from the United States Military Academy at West Point, NY and a Master of Arts degree in Foreign Affairs from the University of Virginia. Additionally, he received a Master of Science degree in Theater Operations from the School of Advanced Military Studies, US Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.