KPMG Director and UTA Professor James Ruedlinger Jr. Passes Away Suddenly, Leaving His Wife, Seehum
The Dallas-Fort Worth community is mourning the sudden and unexpected passing of James Ruedlinger Jr., a devoted husband, father, accomplished strategy professional, and educator whose warmth and leadership touched everyone around him.
He is survived by his wife, Seehum, their son Teddy, his parents, siblings, and all who had the privilege of knowing him.
James built a career defined by intellectual curiosity, principled leadership, and a genuine desire to make those around him better.
A proud alumnus of The University of Texas at Arlington, he earned his Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Communication in 2017, graduating Magna Cum Laude, and later completed his Master of Arts in Organizational Communication from the same institution in 2022.
During his undergraduate years, he was a standout campus leader, serving as President of the Interfraternity Council, a Student Governance Senator, and a facilitator for the President’s Leadership Institute.
He was named Student Governance Senator of the Year and received both the Outstanding First Year and Outstanding Second Year Leader awards, honors that reflected a character that would define his entire life.
A Career Built on Strategy, Integrity, and Purpose
James began his professional journey as a Spring 2017 Archer Fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C., where he contributed to published research on defense industrial cooperation, contingency contracting, and military modernization.
That experience, he later said, taught him to find a career where he could make an impact, one where he could learn something new, teach others, and empower individuals every day.
True to that mission, he joined Lone Star Analysis, rising steadily from Project Lead to Director of Price to Win Services, where he led competitive intelligence and pricing strategy engagements with major defense clients.
In January 2022, he joined KPMG, where he continued to grow, eventually becoming Director of Commercial Excellence and Pricing Strategy.
Colleagues remembered him as someone who brought rare strategic clarity and empathy to every room he entered. A former direct report described him as a leader who elevated teams, instilled confidence in clients, and drove projects to success with thoughtfulness, composure, and integrity.
Teacher, Mentor, and Voice Worth Hearing
In August 2025, James extended his passion for communication by joining The University of Texas at Arlington as an Adjunct Assistant Professor, teaching Strategic Communication to STEM majors.
He was not simply passing along coursework but passing along a belief he had carried since his own days as a student and Archer Fellow: that the ability to communicate well, to truly listen, to express oneself with clarity and conviction, opens every door that matters.
He was also a TEDx speaker, a competitive cyclist who represented Skratch Labs as a brand ambassador, and a published author of defense policy research distributed through one of Washington’s most respected think tanks.
James Ruedlinger Jr. was a man who lived generously, led with empathy, and left every person he worked with a little sharper, a little more confident, and a little more capable. His loss is felt deeply and widely.
A GoFundMe has been established to support his wife, Seehum, and son Teddy, as they navigate this sudden and heartbreaking loss.
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