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, evolving green energy technologies, unmanned aviation, intelligence operations, international threat analysis, strategic business development, and corporate leadership training. James joined Cortland Advisors in 2021.

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. He commanded the 432d Wing, responsible for executing global operations of the MQ-1 Predator, MQ-9 Reaper, and RQ-170 Sentinel weapon systems. 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.

In addition to his work with SOAR BEYOND, James serves on the Boards of Advisors of Frontier Technologies, Inc, and Fortem Technology. He is a Principal at the consulting firm Deep Water Point in Annapolis, Maryland. He is an Adjunct Research Staff Member at the Institute for Defense Analyses in Alexandria, Virginia and holds an active Top Secret/SCI security clearance. He has extensive experience in field of aviation safety and civilian unmanned aviation and serves as an Adjunct Instructor in the Aviation Department at Montana State University’s Gallatin College. He is an FAA-certified commercial flight instructor with instrument and multi-engine ratings and is a Part 107 small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Remote Pilot. He also serves as the Montana Vice President for the National Defense Industrial Association’s Northern Tier Chapter.

He is married to USAF Colonel (Retired) Erin Cluff and they reside in Big Sky, Montana, with the youngest of their four children. In their spare time they enjoy skiing, hiking, camping and their two dogs – Skye (Golden Retriever) and McKinley (Siberian Husky). They are actively involved in community non-profit organizations such as the Big Sky Chamber of Commerce, Big Sky Community Housing Trust and Saint Joseph’s Mission at Big Sky Catholic church.