PERSON: James Spider Marks

Opportunities Development Group

Managing Director

James “Spider” Marks is a Managing Director, Opportunities Development Group, a DC based consulting firm, assisting energy and national security companies expand their market access. Since retiring from the military, where he attained the rank of Major General, Marks has been the CEO, InVisM, a firm that develops training, simulation, and learning products, a Managing Partner, Ergo, a primary research and consulting firm, and the President and CEO of Global Linguist Solutions, a private company that provides linguistics services to the United States Military in Iraq and was the largest employer of native Iraqis. He is an adjunct professor at Georgetown University, an on-air military and intelligence contributor to CNN, Fox News, CBS, MSNBC, and BBC. He sits on several boards to include the Call Of Duty Endowment that facilitates veterans’ employment.

General Marks spent over 30 years in the United States Army. During his military career, he held 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. General Marks served as a strategist on the Army staff; was the Senior Intelligence Officer in the Balkans and Korea; and was in combat as the Senior Intelligence Officer for the Coalition Land Forces liberation of Iraq, Operation Iraqi Freedom. He culminated his career as the Commanding General of the United States Army Intelligence Center and School. General Marks is an Honor Graduate of the United States Army Ranger School, a Master Parachutist authorized to wear Canadian and Korean Airborne wings, and has been awarded the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, and multiple combat, expeditionary, and service ribbons.

General Marks is a 1975 graduate of The United States Military Academy at West Point, New York and holds a Master of Arts degree in International Affairs conferred by the University of Virginia in 1985. Additionally, he received a Master of Science degree in Theater Operations from the School of Advanced Military Studies, U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas in 1990.

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