At A Glance:

John P. Walters is president and chief executive officer of Hudson Institute.

Assistant
Kate Hirzel
Special Assistant to the President and CEO

Biography

John P. Walters is president and chief executive officer of Hudson Institute.

From 2009 through 2020, Mr. Walters served as chief operating officer of Hudson, in which role he oversaw Hudson’s research staff and operations. He was appointed president and CEO in January 2021.

Mr. Walters also directs Hudson Institute Political Studies—an undergraduate summer fellowship program—and Hudson’s Center for Substance Abuse Policy Research. In addition, he was a member of the Independent Review Committee, hosted by Hudson Institute from 2019 to 2022 and established to advise the Attorney General and Congress on the implementation of criminal justice reform under the First Step Act.

From December 2001 to January 2009, Mr. Walters was director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) and a cabinet member during the Bush administration. As the nation’s “drug czar,” Mr. Walters guided all aspects of federal drug policy and programs—supporting efforts that drove down teen drug use 25 percent, increased substance abuse treatment and screening in the healthcare system, and dramatically dropped the availability of cocaine and methamphetamine in the US.

From 1996 until 2001, Mr. Walters served as president of the Philanthropy Roundtable, a national association of charitable foundations and individual donors. His prior government service included work at ONDCP, at its founding in 1989 as chief of staff, and later as deputy director of supply reduction. He was assistant to the secretary and chief of staff at the US Department of Education during the Reagan administration. He also served in the Division of Education Programs at the National Endowment for the Humanities from 1982 to 1985.

Mr. Walters has taught political science at Michigan State University’s James Madison College and at Boston College. He holds a BA from Michigan State University and an MA from the University of Toronto.

Events
11
May 2023
Past Event
When Wire Was King: The Transformation of Telecommunications
Featured Speakers:
Jennifer Manner
Henry Goldberg
Robert M. McDowell
Harold Furchtgott-Roth
John P. Walters
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11
May 2023
Past Event
When Wire Was King: The Transformation of Telecommunications
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Featured Speakers:
Jennifer Manner
Henry Goldberg
Robert M. McDowell
Harold Furchtgott-Roth
John P. Walters
24
April 2023
Past Event
Debate: Winning in Ukraine Is Critically Important for Deterring a War in Taiwan
Featured Speakers:
John P. Walters
Elbridge Colby
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24
April 2023
Past Event
Debate: Winning in Ukraine Is Critically Important for Deterring a War in Taiwan

Please join Hudson Institute for a live debate between Hudson President and CEO John P. Walters and Marathon Initiative Co-Founder and Principal Elbridge Colby on whether Ukrainian victory is critically important for deterring war in Taiwan.

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Featured Speakers:
John P. Walters
Elbridge Colby
21
February 2023
Past Event
Keeping Ukraine on the Path to Victory
Featured Speakers:
John P. Walters
Minister Oleksii Reznikov
Ambassador Oksana Markarova
Mamuka Mamulashvili
Nolan Peterson
Paul Massaro
Melinda Haring
LTG (ret.) Ben Hodges
Maria Tomak
Bryan Clark
Moderator:
Peter Rough
Luke Coffey
A Ukrainian serviceman fires during a joint military training of armed forces, national guards, border guards and Security Service of Ukraine in Rivne region, near the border with Belarus, on February 11, 2023, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (Photo by Dimitar DILKOFF / AFP) (Photo by DIMITAR DILKOFF/AFP via Getty Images)
21
February 2023
Past Event
Keeping Ukraine on the Path to Victory

Join Hudson Institute for a discussion on how the United States and its allies can continue their vital support for Ukraine with Ukrainian Ambassador Oksana Markarova, Commander of the Georgian Legion Mamuka Mamulashvili, former Commanding General of US Army Europe Ben Hodges, and other experts.

A Ukrainian serviceman fires during a joint military training of armed forces, national guards, border guards and Security Service of Ukraine in Rivne region, near the border with Belarus, on February 11, 2023, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (Photo by Dimitar DILKOFF / AFP) (Photo by DIMITAR DILKOFF/AFP via Getty Images)
Featured Speakers:
John P. Walters
Minister Oleksii Reznikov
Ambassador Oksana Markarova
Mamuka Mamulashvili
Nolan Peterson
Paul Massaro
Melinda Haring
LTG (ret.) Ben Hodges
Maria Tomak
Bryan Clark
Moderator:
Peter Rough
Luke Coffey
31
January 2022
Past Event
Virtual Event | Iran Nuclear Negotiations: Will a Revived Deal Undermine American Interests?
Featured Speakers:
Mohammed Khalid Alyahya
Jonathan Schachter
Michael Doran
John P. Walters
The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action meeting held to discuss the full implementation of the Iran nuclear deal and the return of the United States to the deal in Vienna, Austria, on April 15, 2021. (Getty Images)
31
January 2022
Past Event
Virtual Event | Iran Nuclear Negotiations: Will a Revived Deal Undermine American Interests?

This event will premiere on this page at 12:00 p.m. EST, Monday, January 31. Register for the event here.

The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action meeting held to discuss the full implementation of the Iran nuclear deal and the return of the United States to the deal in Vienna, Austria, on April 15, 2021. (Getty Images)
Featured Speakers:
Mohammed Khalid Alyahya
Jonathan Schachter
Michael Doran
John P. Walters