James P. Rogers is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Eastman Chemical Company.

He was born on March 23, 1951 in Bethesda, Maryland. He graduated with High Distinction and Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Virginia with a B.A. degree in psychology in 1973. In 1983, he received an MBA from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

From 1973 through 1980, Rogers served in the United States Navy as a naval aviator, flying aboard the U.S.S. Eisenhower, and achieving the rank of Lieutenant.

After receiving his MBA in 1983, Rogers joined Morgan Guaranty Trust Company and over the next four years rose to the level of Vice President in Corporate Finance. While there, he was involved in large credit facilities, along with financings for mergers and acquisitions and LBO transactions.

In 1987, Rogers joined Amphenol Corporation, a leveraged buy-out in the electronic connector industry, as Treasurer.

In 1992, Rogers joined GAF Corporation/International Specialty Products, Inc. as VP & Treasurer. GAF is the nation’s largest roofing manufacturer; International Specialty Products was a NYSE-traded specialty chemicals company. A year later in 1993, Rogers became Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of GAF. At the same time, he served as Executive Vice President, Finance, of International Specialty Products, Inc. He held these positions until joining Eastman in August 1999 as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.

He was named Executive Vice President of Eastman Chemical Company and President of Eastman Division in November 2003 and served as President and head of the Chemicals & Fibers Business Group when appointed President and Chief Executive Officer in May 2009. He was appointed to his current position in January 2011.

Rogers serves on the Lord Corporation Board of Directors. Lord Corporation is a private technology company. He is a member of The American Section of the Société de Chimie Industrielle. Locally, he serves on the Executive Committee and is past President of the Executive Board of the Sequoyah Council, Boy Scouts of America. He is active in the United Way of Greater Kingsport.