Jim Clayton is pursuing a master’s degree in political science from The University of Texas at Tyler, where he also earned a bachelor's degree in English in the Honors College. On campus, Clayton was a member of the international English honor society, Sigma Tau Delta, served as president of the UT Tyler Creative Writing Club, and authored a weekly column for The Patriot Talon, the university’s independent, hard-hitting news outlet. Professionally, Clayton's experience spans two decades in the oil and gas industry, primarily in safety and operations management, with notable experience as a health, safety, and environmental trainer in the Middle East. His graduate research focuses on the growing threat of weaponized artificial intelligence in the hands of domestic extremists. Clayton is dedicated to studying how political systems can be strengthened to prevent the misuse of AI technologies and safeguard national security for the United States and its allies.