Chris Walsh serves as Director, Freedom and Democracy at the George W. Bush Institute. In this role, Walsh manages programs that advance free societies globally and strengthen democracy domestically.
On the global front, he leads projects to support dissidents and democracy advocates through skills development, collaborative networks, and storytelling. These efforts also highlight U.S. leadership that champions democracy, freedom, and human rights in the world, as well as the importance of maintaining strong alliances among democratic nations.
Domestically, Walsh supports the Institute’s broader efforts for strengthening American democracy. He leads projects promoting pluralism, civility, and civil discourse. This work seeks to equip leaders with insight and tools for practicing these values-based habits in their communities and contributing to a healthy democracy.
Prior to joining the Bush Institute, Walsh worked with the International Republican Institute in Washington, D.C. As IRI’s program officer for Central and Eastern Europe, he coordinated political party building and civic advocacy programs in the Balkans and Turkey.
A native of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, Walsh is a graduate of American University with a B.A. in International Studies. He currently lives in Dallas with his wife and four young children.
