James S. “Jim” Schwab currently serves as the Director of the Office of Management Strategy and Solutions at the U.S. Department of State, focused on providing strategic insights and solutions to help improve the Department’s management platform and advance foreign policy goals. In this capacity, Jim oversees the Policy and Global Presence and Consulting and Advanced Projects directorates, as well as the Center for Analytics, a group dedicated to maximizing the Department’s ability to leverage data for making policy and management decisions essential to achieving its diplomatic mission.
Jim is formerly a Founding Partner of CrimStone Partners, a private equity firm based in Dallas Texas. From 2005-2017, Jim led the growth and development of CrimStone’s first portfolio company, Pallet Logistics of America, as co-President and later as Chief Executive Officer. During this period the Pallet Logistics of America team built the company from a local mom and pop operation into one of the largest and most respected wooden pallet recycling companies in the United States, ultimately leading to a successful recapitalization of the company. He is also a former board member and Chairman of the National Wooden Pallet and Container Association and has served on numerous other for-profit and not-for-profit boards.
Prior to founding CrimStone, Jim was a Vice President and Managing Principal in Ericsson, AB’s Global Services business unit where he co-led the development of the consulting and wireless data application development business in North America. He was also Vice President of Operations for Paging Network, Inc., responsible for leading turnaround efforts in supply chain logistics and the wireless data subsidiary.
Prior to PageNet, Jim spent four years as a consultant and engagement manager with The Boston Consulting Group and five years as an officer in the United States Navy, where he was a nuclear surface warfare officer and deployed to the Persian Gulf in 1992.
Jim holds a Bachelor of Science degree, with distinction, in Mathematics from the United States Naval Academy, is a graduate of Naval Nuclear Power School, and holds a Master of Business Administration from the Harvard Business School.
