William Walker - Young Marines

Major General Walker – By presidential appointment, he served as the 23rd Commanding General of the District of Columbia National Guard. General Walker, a Military Intelligence Officer held a variety of command and staff positions of increasing responsibility including service with the NATO International Security Assistance Force – Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Following his military retirement in 2021, he became the 38th Sergeant at Arms of the U.S. House of Representatives and was the first African American to hold the position since it was established in 1791.

Gen Walker is a graduate of the Joint and Combined War-fighting School, the Inter-American Defense (War) College, the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, the National Security Course and the U.S. Army Defense Strategy Course. His awards include the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, Joint Achievement Medal, Army Achievement Medal and the Department of State Meritorious Honor Medal.

In January 2014, Mr. Walker retired from civilian government service after 30 years as a Special Agent of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). He was appointed a DEA Special Agent at the Chicago Field Division and served in a variety of domestic and foreign criminal investigative positions as well as several Headquarters administrative staff assignments. Gen Walker held supervisory, management and senior executive service positions in New York, Florida, Puerto Rico, and Washington, DC.

Promoted to the Senior Executive Service rank in August 2002 and to Deputy Assistant Administrator in 2004, his last position was Director, DEA Office of Strategic Warning.

Originally from Chicago, General Walker was educated at the University of Illinois (BA), Chicago State University (MS), the National Intelligence University (MS) and American University (MA). He completed the National and International Security Program for Senior Executives at Harvard University; the National Security Studies Program at George Washington University; the Center for Homeland Defense and Security, Executive Leader’s Program at the Naval Post Graduate School and the National Security Program at Syracuse University.General Walker, a member of the Council on Foreign Relations received an Honorary Doctor of Strategic Intelligence from the National Intelligence University and is a Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Center for International Studies, Seminar XXI fellow and a National Academy of Public Administration Fellow.