General James E. "Hoss" Cartwright, USMC, (born September 22, 1949), is the eighth and current Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He previously served as the commander of U.S. Strategic Command from July 9, 2004 to August 10, 2007. He assumed his current assignment on August 31, 2007.

James Cartwright, born on September 22, 1949 in Rockford, Illinois, is the oldest of 6 children and the only boy. He attended West High School and then went on to the University of Iowa where he graduated in 1971 with a degree in Pre-medicine.

Cartwright was commissioned a second lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps in November 1971. He attended Naval Flight Officer training and graduated in April 1973. He attended Naval Aviator training and graduated in January 1977. He has operational assignments as an Naval Flight Officer in the F-4, and as a pilot in the F-4, OA-4, and F/A-18.