Lightning Round

Rob Walker is the executive director, Homeland Security Experts Group and an outreach manager for The MITRE Corporation, where he is leading efforts to elevate the conversations around homeland security risks and opportunities. Previously he was the executive director of the Aspen Security Forum and the Aspen Institute’s Homeland Security Program. Walker led the Forum for three years, gaining the highest rate of news coverage in the history of the Institute.

Walker retired from the U.S. Army after serving for over 20 years in various worldwide assignments and leadership roles. He was instrumental in the return of the U.S. Army’s presence in Eastern Europe—an effort to assure NATO allies and deter further westward aggression by Russia. A career field artillery officer, his career was marked by assignments and roles in military-to-military relationship building and fostering of interoperability.

He has received numerous military awards including two Bronze Star Medals, the Valorous Unit Award, five Meritorious Service Medals, the Global War on Terrorism Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal with two stars, the Korean Defense Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, and the Joint Service Achievement Medal. He is also a holder of the prestigious U.S. Field Artillery Associations’ Order of St. Barbara.

Walker holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from the United States Military Academy at West Point and a master’s degree in international relations from Webster University.

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