Since December 2003 James R. Wilkinson has served as Deputy Assistant to the President and Deputy National Security Advisor for Communications.

Prior to joining the National Security Council staff, Mr. Wilkinson served as Director of Strategic Communications for General Tommy Franks at U.S. Central Command. At Central Command, Mr. Wilkinson coordinated the command's strategic communications activities throughout its 25-nation area of responsibility, including those related to Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and the Horn of Africa. During Operation Iraqi Freedom, Mr. Wilkinson served as General Tommy R. Franks' principal spokesman and managed the U.S. military's public affairs activities in the region.

From January 2001 through November 2002, Mr. Wilkinson served at the White House as Special Assistant to the President and Deputy Director of Communications for Planning.

Mr. Wilkinson also managed the White House Coalition Information Center for the war against terrorism. Prior to joining the White House, Mr. Wilkinson served as spokesman for Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld during the 2000 presidential transition. From 1992 through 2000, Mr. Wilkinson worked in Congress for U.S. House Majority Leader Dick Armey. Mr. Wilkinson received his B.B.A. in finance from the University of Texas at Arlington and his M.A. from The Johns Hopkins University. Wilkinson also attended Weatherford Junior College in Weatherford, Texas, and Tarrant County Junior College in Fort Worth, Texas. Wilkinson also serves as an officer in the US Navy Reserves.