Dual U.S.–Israeli National

James Erick Loftis

IDF Veteran Operations Manager Team Leader Trilingual Chicago, IL

Operations professional and military veteran. Proven team leader, fluent in three languages, geographically flexible and open to opportunities across sectors.

“Act with guts. Build with resilience. Lead with integrity. Finish with tenacity.”

⇓ Resume (PDF)
James Erick Loftis
Profile

Dual U.S.–Israeli national with a track record of leading teams and managing operations under pressure across two continents. Progressed from front-line staff to General Manager through consistent results, while serving an active reserve commitment with the Israel Defense Forces through 2025. Fluent in English, Spanish, and Hebrew. Geographically flexible and open to opportunities across sectors.

Values
G
Guts
Act when the outcome is uncertain.
R
Resilience
Return from setback stronger than you left.
I
Integrity
Do what’s right when no one is watching.
T
Tenacity
Stay on target regardless of friction.
Experience
Civilian
2024–PresentBethany Beach, DE
Seasonal
General Manager
Sun and Sea
  • Directed daily operations of a high-volume seasonal retail business: staffing, inventory, vendors, and cash handling.
  • Hired and trained seasonal staff; set performance standards in a high-turnover environment.
  • Grew from entry-level to General Manager; entrusted with full operational continuity.
Feb–Apr 2026Chicago, IL
Cashier
Mariano’s
  • Processed high-volume cash, credit, and mobile transactions with full accuracy.
  • Resolved customer concerns at point of sale with professionalism and efficiency.
2014–2016Davie, FL
Front Desk, Lifeguard & After School Counselor
David Posnack JCC
  • Processed member payments and managed front desk operations for a busy facility.
  • Served as certified lifeguard and supervised children in after-school programming.
Military Service — Israel Defense Forces
2023–2025Reserves
Israel
Reserve Soldier
Homefront Command, IDF
  • Conducted field operations in high-pressure environments, applying trained protocols to maintain safety and order.
  • Supported multi-agency emergency response during active crisis situations.
2020–2025Reserves
Israel
Security & Logistics NCO
International Training Liaison, IDF
  • Represented the IDF as liaison in joint training with Allied forces, facilitating international cooperation.
  • Coordinated logistics for sensitive personnel and equipment across multinational operations.
2017–2019Active Duty
Israel
Combat Engineer & Grenadier
Yahalom Special Operations Unit, IDF
  • Served in an elite specialized unit, leading and executing high-stakes field operations in demanding environments.
  • Managed precision technical operations with zero margin for error and strict safety compliance.
  • Completed an advanced leadership development course in team management and operational planning.
Volunteer Service
2014–2016Broward County, FL
Volunteer — Animal-Assisted Therapy
Animal Therapy Program
  • Supported autistic individuals in a therapeutic program incorporating farm animals.
2016–2017Israel
Kibbutz Volunteer
Kibbutz, Israel
  • Lived and worked in a communal agricultural community prior to military service; achieved full Hebrew fluency.
Education
2012–2016Davie, FL
Associate of Arts — Coursework
Broward College
61 semester credit hours completed (55 college credits + 6 CLEP). No degree conferred.
2012Hollywood, FL
High School Diploma
South Broward High School
Skills
Operations & Management
Team Leadership Inventory Management Vendor Relations Staff Hiring & Training Budget Oversight Cash Handling
Leadership & Professional
Decision Making Under Pressure Crisis Response Logistics Coordination Safety & Compliance International Liaison
Communication & Technical
Cross-cultural Communication Conflict Resolution Customer Relations Computer Building Financial Markets Research
Languages
English
Native
Spanish
Fluent
Hebrew
Fluent
Contact
Chicago, IL · Bethany Beach, DE (May–Oct)
EmailJamesLoftis.JL@gmail.com
LinkedInlinkedin.com/in/jamesloftis →
ResumeDownload PDF →