Though born in Kansas City, Missouri, Jim Abrahamson spent his childhood in Galesburg, Illinois and moved with his parents to Aurora after completing the seventh grade. He graduated as East High's C0-Valedictorian in 1955.

Appointed to West Point Military Academy by his congressman, Jim earned his baccalaureate degree and an army commission at the U.S. Mililtary Academy, from which he graduated in 1959, academically, first in his class.

During his more than twenty-seven years of subsequent army service, Jim was fortunate to be given the opportunity to earn a Masters in Political Science with a specialty in International Relations from the Graduate Institute of International Studies in Geneva, Switzerland in 1966. He also earned a Masters of Arts (1974) and PhD (1977) in American History from Stanford University.

Dr. James Abrahamson has served at some of the most prestigious colleges and universities in America. During the course of his tenure he has been a Professor at American Military University, University of North Carloina at Chapel Hill, Campbell University, U.S. Army War College, and the U.S. Military Academy.

Just notably, Dr. Abrahamson has written four books, The Making of a Great Military Power(1981), The American Home Front: American Revolution, Civil War, World War 1, World War II (1983), The Men of Secession and Civil War (2000), and Vanguard of American Atomic Deterrence: The Sandia Pioneers (2002).