State Department official to talk about nation’s opioid crisis

January 28, 2019
Categories: General News Tags: Academic Affairs, Global Reach

James Walsh from the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs will present “The National Opioid Crisis” at 3:30 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 20, in the Barnhardt Student Activity Center, Salon D.

Walsh was appointed the bureau’s principal deputy assistant secretary in September 2018. In his UNC Charlotte talk, he will address the global dimensions and international implications of the opioid crisis and the drug trade.

In his current role, Walsh is responsible for supporting State Department programs and policies to combat illicit drugs and organized crime around the world. Since January 2015, Walsh has served in the International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs Bureau (INL) as director of the State Department law enforcement and rule of law assistance activities in Europe and Asia (excluding Pakistan and Afghanistan) while overseeing the department’s Air Wing and INL’s resources.

He also was the senior bureau official from December 2017 to May 2018 and acting principal deputy secretary from May to August 2018. He previously served as the executive director/controller for the bureau where he led several efforts to strengthen criminal justice assistance programs including the development of an interagency Criminal Justice Sector Rating Tool.

Prior to government service, Walsh worked in the private sector for five years supporting Fortune 500 companies. A U.S. Army veteran, Walsh served eight years where he had several overseas deployments leading aviation units. He is a career member of the Senior Executive Service, has a bachelor’s degree from West Point and a master’s degree in business administration from Bowie State University. In 2017, he received the Presidential Meritorious Rank Award.

Faculty are encouraged to reserve space to attend with their classes and/or arrange for an extra-credit sign-in sheet for students; email globaleducation@uncc.edu. Individual RSVPs are requested.

The Office of International Programs, in conjunction with the World Affairs Council of Charlotte and the Department of Global Studies, sponsors the International Speaker Series.