The Real Bill James

Bill James was born in St. Louis, Missouri and has lived a life of service, sacrifice, and redemption. He is married to his beautiful wife, Renee, and together they have one daughter and two beloved grandchildren who bring joy to their world. When Bill isn’t speaking or serving in ministry, he’s likely spending cherished time with his grandkids—soaking in the joy of being “Papa.” A man of deep faith and unwavering conviction, Bill has served alongside some of the most respected Christian leaders of our time. He has been part of Rick Warren’s team at Saddleback Church, worked closely with Max Lucado, and helped build security, safety, and medical teams from the ground up for three large churches, making places of worship safer for thousands of people.

At 18, Bill joined the National Guard as a military police officer and went on to serve an extraordinary 39-year career in military law enforcement. Rising through the ranks to become a CID Special Agent, he was trained by elite federal agencies including the FBI, CIA, Secret Service, U.S. Marshals, and more. Holding multiple instructor and professional certifications, Bill became an authority in executive protection, surveillance operations, and hostage negotiation. Over the course of seven deployments, he conducted over 1,000 missions safeguarding some of America’s highest-ranking leaders—among them Secretaries of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, Robert Gates, and Leon Panetta, as well as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen, and Army Chief of Staff General Ray Odierno. With a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from American Military University and a master’s in Management and Leadership from Webster University, Bill combined field expertise with academic insight, always committed to excellence.

But Bill’s story doesn’t end with credentials—it turns into testimony. In 2021, after nearly four decades of elite service, he faced death head-on. He nearly died from COVID-19 and survived open-heart surgery and two life-threatening blood clots. It was in this valley that Bill met his purpose. From a Christian perspective, he understands what it means to discover meaning in your pain, to be stripped down to nothing, and come back stronger, not just in body, but in faith, clarity, and mission. He often says, “You don’t take your career to the afterlife… but you do take your character.” His life now is focused on helping others find purpose, heal from their wounds, and live with integrity. Whether he’s teaching others how to discern truth through behavioral analysis or sharing faith through storytelling, Bill’s message is clear: if you look for the negative, you’ll find it. But if you look for the good—if you stay in the positive lane—you’ll find your way home. And he’s living proof of that.