Promise Keepers, an international men's ministry, announced on July 19 the appointment of James A. Sands as Chief Operating Officer. He will be responsible for day-to-day management of the ministry.

Sands is a retired U.S. Air Force colonel and was commander of Buckley Air Force base between 2001 and 2003.

“I’m thrilled to join the Promise Keepers ministry team for one specific purpose, to win men to God’s Kingdom,” said Sands.  “And when men receive the message of Jesus Christ, they are transformed.”

He was most recently the vice president of a defense contractor, The Centech Group, in Colorado Springs, Co.

“Jim Sands is the right man for the job,” said Tom Fortson, Ph.D., president of Promise Keepers. “Jim’s experience in leadership, in negotiations, in research, and in managing multi-million dollar contracts and budgets will quickly move Promise Keepers to the next level.”

According to Promise Keepers, Colonel Sands’ military assignments over 25 years in the United States Air Force included service with the Joint Staff at the Pentagon (1989 – 1992), and a two-year stint as program manager with the Defense Nuclear Agency in Alexandria, Va. (1992 – 1994).  He was chief of the Space Support Division at Peterson Field in Colorado Springs, and commander of the 821st Space Group and the 460th Air Base Wing, both at Buckley Air Force Base outside Denver.

The 49-year-old holds a Bachelor Degree at Arizona State University and a Masters Degree at Webster University in St. Louis, Mo.  also has military training at the Air War College in Alabama and the Armed Forces Staff College in Norfolk, Va.

Sands and his wife Kim are the parents of two sons.