James McDonald currently serves as Assistant Regional Administrator for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 6 in Dallas, Texas. As Assistant Regional Administrator, he is a member of the Senior Executive Service responsible for the daily management operations for the Regional Office which in includes 5 states and 66 federally recognized tribes.

Mr. McDonald started his career at EPA in 1992 as an Environmental Protection Specialist. During his tenure at EPA, he has held several positions including Chief of Staff to the Assistant Administrator for Environmental Information (OEI); Director, Office of Administrative Law Judges; Director, Office of Program Management (OEI); and Special Assistant to the Assistant Administrator for Enforcement and Compliance Assurance and the Associate Assistant Administrator for EPA's Office of Congressional and Intergovernmental Relations. Mr. McDonald also had a stint on Capitol Hill serving as Administrative Assistant/Legal Counsel for Congresswoman Sheila Jackson-Lee of the 18th Congressional District in Texas.

McDonald holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Alcorn State University; Bachelor of Science in Paralegal Studies from the University of Maryland, University College; Master of Public Administration from the Truman School of Public Affairs at the University of Missouri- Columbia; Juris Doctor from the Levin College of Law at the University of Florida; Master of Arts in Human Resources from Webster University, St. Louis, Missouri; and a Ph.D. in Urban Higher Education from Jackson State University.

Mr. McDonald served as the Chair of the Dallas Fort-Worth Federal Executive Board. He is a member of the African American Federal Executive Association; the American Bar Association Section of Environment, Energy and Resources; the National Forum for Black Public Administrators; the 100 Black Men of America, and life member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated. His community service activities include serving as a Board Member for the Mooreland Family YMCA and a Board Member of the Progressive Life Center.