Dr. Hiles is a leading expert in competitive source selections. As an author, educator and former government official, Jim has overseen over $20B in federal procurements and won over $10B in prime contract awards. Jim conceptualized and architected the enterprise-wide rollout of Seaport-e—one of today’s most successful contracts—hence his nickname, “The Godfather of SeaPort-e.” In his capstone Navy role, Jim accelerated and streamlined the service’s contracting capability while capturing and qualifying a previously-untapped industrial base. He enabled significant cost-savings by increasing competition and centralizing the procurement process. His legacy endures, with over $66B in SeaPort-e Task Orders awarded to-date, and new contractors and purchasing agencies onboarding every year. 

A transformative leader, Jim is an asset to businesses large and small. In 2015 he vaulted a very small business to record success in just 5 months. He rapidly developed a pipeline, led the capture, bid and proposal process, and won two prime contracts, including a long-term, high-impact effort staffed by PhD level experts, won against a field of 11 highly-competitive bidders including the incumbent. 

Featured in Federal Computer Week, Jim’s teaching and publications casts the federal market in a whole new light. His most recent books include: “Winning with Past Performance: Strategies for Industry and Government” and “Federal Contracting: 13 Steps to Increase Your CPARS Ratings.” Jim holds a B.S. in Business from The New School, an M.S. in Acquisition and Finance from The Naval Postgraduate School, and an Ed.D. in Human and Organizational Learning from George Washington University.

Jim is a frequent contributor and speaker on Business Development issues with such prestigious organizations as the National Contract Management Association (NCMA) and the Association of Proposal Management Professionals (APMP).

Jim joins Iona Moon in his role as SeaPort-e guru, to demystify the source selection process, and to provide guidance and support to Iona Moon clients as they navigate the federal procurement process. 

Read Jim's latest take on Rolling Admissions, and taking control of your reputation.