Born in Belfast, Ireland, on February 23, 1925, James was the grandson of Belfast's Lamplighter, Willie Watson. His father served with the British in India and was a Constable in Belfast. His mother was a weaver on the Queen's loom, (weaving linen for the Queen of England.) James read newspapers before he was five years old. James and his family came to America in the early 1930s and after a few years settled in Southern California. He was one of the Quiz Kids on Southern California radio in the late 1930s. He was the Quiz Kid who could do all the mathematics problems in his head. In 1940 James won the gold cup in the 5th National Essay Contest of the VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars) Auxiliary in California.

During the Second World War and with parental approval (He was 17 years old.), James enlisted in the United States Army. His father had previously joined the Army when World War II began. While in the Army, James was naturalized as an American citizen on July 15, 1943. James had an IQ of over 160. Schooled as a Master Gunner, he was assigned to the artillery where he used his mathematical abilities and wind balloons to guide artillery shells. He entered the European theater of the war on Omaha Beach and saw duty in St. Lo and the Battle of the Bulge. He participated in the liberation of Paris and crossed the bridge at Remagen on the way to Berlin.

James received a Bachelor of Arts in Physics (Magna cum Laude) from USC (University of Southern California), Los Angeles, California, in 1951, and a Master of Science from UCLA (University of California at Los Angeles), Los Angeles, CA, in 1961. He completed the Executive Program in Business Management at UCLA (University of California at Los Angeles), Los Angeles, CA in 1970. He was registered by the State of California Board of Professional Engineers, Sacramento, CA, as a Professional Engineer in the field of Nuclear Engineering on December 14, 1977.

A pilot in his leisure time, James was part-owner of an airplane which he flew out of Van Nuys Airport, Van Nuys, California, in the late 1950s and early 1960s.

James was a research physicist at Atomics International, North American Aviation, Canoga Park, California, from 1950 to 1961, working with radiation effects in graphite, and the fabrication of graphite and ceramics. During this period with Atomics International James developed a high temperature hot press to 6800° F, for use in his study of graphite, seeking material capable of withstanding the heat of re-entry confronted by vehicles returning from space to the earth's atmosphere. Scientists around the world requested information from him in this regard.

James held managerial positions at The Aerospace Corporation, El Segundo, California, from 1961 to 1980: 1961 Head, Ceramics; 1963 Head, Physics; 1963-64 Head, Space & Weapons Effects; 1966 Head, Re-entry & Weapons Effects; 1974 Assistant Director, Material Sciences Laboratory; 1977 Associate Director, Material Sciences Laboratory.

James published more than 20 scientific papers.

In 1963 James received special recognition from the American Ceramic Society.

In 1966 James was listed in the Eleventh Edition of "American Men of Science".

Aerospace interoffice correspondence dated May 25, 1967, is a letter of appreciation for the services of Mr. J. McClelland and staff in determining nuclear vulnerabilities of satellite materials through analysis and underground testing.

On November 12, 1968, recognition was given to James as the Chairman of Cryo/68 Clinics of Cryogenic Society of America.

In 1970 James received from The Aerospace Corporation a certificate in recognition of the completion of ten years of loyal service.

On May 27, 1970, James received recognition for Meritorious Service as Vice Chairman of the Committee on Research, from the American Society for the Testing of Materials (ASTM), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

At the request of the Advanced Missile Materials Research (AMMRES) committee James helped prepare a first cut at possible characterization and screening requirements in underground tests. On August 7, 1970, this preliminary draft was sent by the Defense Atomic Support Agency, Washington, D. C, to the following for their consideration:

Director of Defense Research & Engineering, Washington, D. C.
Army Materials & Mechanics Research Center, Watertown, Massachusetts
Naval Ordnance Laboratory, Silver Spring, Maryland
Air Force Materials Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio
Air Force Weapons Laboratory, Kirkland Air Force Base, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico
The Rand Corporation, Santa Monica, California
Effects Technology, Inc., Santa Barbara
The Aerospace Corporation, Los Angeles, California
Failure Analysis Associates, Larkspur, California

The following quotation from the Aerospace newspaper gives a description of James' mental approach toward the space industry: "Historically, organizations tend to separate research people from the engineers. But we had the opportunity here to combine the two within our materials sciences lab with both a research and support functions." (Quotation by James McClelland, "The Aerospace Corporation Orbiter", January 15, 1971, page 2.)

In a letter dated May 11, 1971, from Duke University to The Aerospace Corporation, the United States Army Research authorized a contract for James D. McClelland to advise and guide scientists of the United States Army Materials and Mechanics Research Center, Watertown, Massachusetts. Specifically, his advice was requested in a study of the vulnerability of materials and combinations thereof to radiation energy. (Duke University was authorized to obtain these services under contract with the United States Army Research Office-Durham.)

On June 6, 1973, James received special recognition for being a member of the Ad Hoc Laser Hardened Materials Research & Development Subpanel of the DDR&E (Department of Defense Research & Engineering) Laser Review Group from the Assistant Director (Space & Advanced Systems) of the Defense Research & Engineering of the United States Department of Defense, Washington, D. C.

In 1973 the program to recruit teenagers for summer employment was reinstated after a three-year halt. This program was "initiated in the material sciences Laboratory because J. D. McClelland recognized a need to inform students in the central city schools of employment opportunities in science." ("The Aerospace Corporation Orbiter" August 22, 1973, back is page 3.)

The following quotations are excerpts from James' profile in the 1973-1974 Roster of the Board of Directors, ASTM (American Society for the Testing of Materials), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania:
"He has been appointed Assistant Director of the Material Sciences Laboratory and is responsible for materials support for all Air Force space and missile systems programs, inthe areas of graphite, ceramics, polymers, composites, metals and alloys.
"A member of ASTM, Mr. McClelland was the founding chairman of the Society's Committee F-7 on Aerospace Industry Methods, a member of the founding group for Committee E-21 on Space Simulation and the founding chairman on Committee C-6 on Pyrolitic Materials. He is also a member of the Standing Committee on Publications. He was vice-chairman of the Standing Committee on Research 1965-1970.
"In addition to ASTM, Mr. McClelland is a member of the American Ordnance Association, and the Armed Forces Management Association. He is a consultant on materials to the office of the Secretary of Defense."

On March 19* to 21st in 1974, James chaired a conference on "Critical Issues in Strategic Missile Systems Materials" sponsored by the Materials Division of the American Defense Preparedness Association at the United States Naval Ordnance Laboratory, White Oak, Silver Spring, Maryland.

In May of 1974, a paper entitled "Influence of Temperature on Hypervelocity Erosion of Graphite" co-authored by James D. McClelland , Material Sciences Laboratory, The Aerospace Corporation, El Segundo, California, was presented at the Fourth International Conference, Rain Erosion & Associated Phenomena, Meersburg, Federal German Republic.

In 1974 James received recognition for being a Director of the American Society for the Testing of Materials during the years 1971 tol974. (ASTM, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)

On May 1, 1975, James received recognition for his service on the Publications Committee of the American Society for the Testing of Materials. (ASTM, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)

On October 21st to 23rd, 1975, James chaired a conference on "Critical Issues in Materials for Strategic Systems" (including topics later called "Star Wars"), sponsored by the Materials Division of the American Defense Preparedness Association at the Institute for Defense Analyses, Arlington, Virginia.

In May and June of 1976, James was a member of the Conference on "Critical Issues for Strategic Missiles" which "directed attention toward critical materials requirements for advance strategic missile systems for the 1975-1985 decade." This conference was sponsored by the Materials Division of the American Defense Preparedness Association, Washington, D. C.

In 1976 James received recognition from SAMSO /Aerospace Satellite Materials, Air Force Systems Command, Los Angeles Air Force Station, Los Angeles, California, for service he provided in regard to underground testing during the period 1965 - 1976. (SAMSO is the abbreviation for Space and Missile Systems Organization.)

The following quotation from the Aerospace newspaper describes what James brought to the space industry: James McClelland made a "Significant contribution to research management relating to technical direction of Air Force materials programs. His personal research has been primarily in the areas of graphite, high-temperature properties of materials, ceramic processing and reactor materials." (Profile in "The Aerospace Corporation Orbiter", February 9, 1977, Page 2.)

In 1977 James played detective at the request of the United States Coast Guard as to why on December 17th the "Liberian tanker Sansinena exploded in Los Angeles Harbor east of San Pedro killing nine men." (The Aerospace Corporation Orbiter", May 18, 1977, Pages 1 and 3.)
On June 23, 1978 James was appointed Chairman of the Materials & Processes Division of American Defense Preparedness, Washington, D. C. for two years.

In 1978 James received recognition for satellite communications research.
James received The Aerospace Corporation commemoration for 20 years of loyal service.

In 1980 James retired due to disability.
James passed away December 27, 1992.