After earning a B.S. in mechanical engineering from Youngstown State University (YSU) in 1962, James Henry Brahney began his professional career as Aerospace Research Engineer on NASA’s Apollo Program with North American Aviation in Los Angeles, CA.

He entered the Air Force Officer Training School at the end of that year, and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in March 1963. He was then selected for jet pilot training at Craig AFB in Alabama. He received his wings in May 1964 and went on to advanced flight training in helicopters at Stead AFB, Nevada.

After an operational assignment in Nevada, he served a one-year tour in Vietnam, flying 200 combat sorties as a Rescue Helicopter Pilot. He was credited with saving nine lives and was decorated with the Distinguished Flying Cross for Heroism, the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry, another Distinguished Flying Cross and seven Air Medals for meritorious achievement in flight. His rescue squadron was also awarded the Presidential Unit Citation.

In 1968, he was selected to attend the U. S. Navy Test Pilot School and was assigned to the Flight Test Wing at Wright-Patterson AFB in Dayton, Ohio where he tested a variety of aircraft and flight systems.

His flying career spanned thirteen years during which he compiled 2,800 flying hours in 35 different aircraft. He was pilot-qualified in 23 different aircraft.

From 1976 to 1979, he progressed through a series of program management positions in the F-16 Program Office before being appointed as Director of the Advanced Rescue Helicopter Program.

He was also Commander of the Air Force ROTC program at the University of Pittsburgh for two years.

He retired from the U.S. Air Force as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1982 and began a second career with the Society of Automotive Engineers, developing and managing aerospace technical conferences and serving as Associate Editor of Aerospace Engineering magazine, in which he published over 200 technical articles.

In addition to his degree from YSU, he holds an M.S. in systems management from the University of Southern California and a Ph.D. in higher education administration from the University of Pittsburgh. He has also taught many management courses.

He was inducted posthumously into the Ohio Military Hall of Fame for Valor on May 7, 2010 and was recognized at In Memory Day in Washington, DC on June 14, 2012.