John Edward Walsh (born November 3, 1960) is an American politician and former military officer who served as a
United States Senator
The United States Senate is the Upper house, upper chamber of the United States Congress, with the United States House of Representatives, House of Representatives being the Lower house, lower chamber. Together they compose the national Bica ...
from
Montana
Montana () is a state in the Mountain West division of the Western United States. It is bordered by Idaho to the west, North Dakota and South Dakota to the east, Wyoming to the south, and the Canadian provinces of Alberta, British Columbi ...
from 2014 to 2015.
A member of the
Democratic Party Democratic Party most often refers to:
*Democratic Party (United States)
Democratic Party and similar terms may also refer to:
Active parties Africa
*Botswana Democratic Party
*Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea
*Gabonese Democratic Party
*Demo ...
, he previously served as a
colonel
Colonel (abbreviated as Col., Col or COL) is a senior military officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations.
In the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, a colonel was typically in charge of ...
in the
Army National Guard
The Army National Guard (ARNG), in conjunction with the Air National Guard, is an organized Militia (United States), militia force and a Reserve components of the United States Armed Forces, federal military reserve force of the United States A ...
, the
adjutant general of the
Montana National Guard
The Montana National Guard consists of the Montana Army National Guard, and the Montana Air National Guard.
Structure and mission
When National Guard troops are called to federal service, the President serves as Commander-in-Chief. The federal ...
with a state commission as a
brigadier general
Brigadier general or Brigade general is a military rank used in many countries. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries. The rank is usually above a colonel, and below a major general or divisional general. When appointed ...
from 2008 to 2012 and the 34th
Lieutenant Governor of Montana
The lieutenant governor of Montana is an elected official in the State of Montana that ranks just below the governor of Montana.
List of lieutenant governors
;Parties
Living former lieutenant governors
, there are six former lieutenant gove ...
from 2013 to 2014 under Governor
Steve Bullock Steve, Steven, or Stephen Bullock may refer to:
*Steve Bullock (British politician) (born 1953), first directly elected mayor of the London Borough of Lewisham
*Steve Bullock (American politician) (born 1966), 24th Governor of Montana (2013–2021) ...
.
In October 2013, Walsh announced his candidacy for the
U.S. Senate
The United States Senate is the upper chamber of the United States Congress, with the House of Representatives being the lower chamber. Together they compose the national bicameral legislature of the United States.
The composition and powe ...
in
2014
File:2014 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: Stocking up supplies and personal protective equipment (PPE) for the Western African Ebola virus epidemic; Citizens examining the ruins after the Chibok schoolgirls kidnapping; Bundles of wat ...
to succeed retiring Democratic incumbent
Max Baucus. When Baucus resigned prior to the end of his term, Bullock appointed Walsh to fill Baucus's seat. In August 2014, he dropped out of the race after ''
The New York Times
''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...
'' reported he had plagiarized portions of a research paper he had written at the
Army War College in 2007, resulting in the college revoking his
Master's degree
A master's degree (from Latin ) is an academic degree awarded by universities or colleges upon completion of a course of study demonstrating mastery or a high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice. .
[ He was succeeded in the Senate by Republican Steve Daines.
From February 2016 to November 2017, Walsh was the state director of Montana's USDA Rural Development office for the ]United States Department of Agriculture
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is the United States federal executive departments, federal executive department responsible for developing and executing federal laws related to farming, forestry, rural economic development, ...
. He then began a career in real estate sales.
Early life and education
Walsh was born on November 3, 1960, in Butte, Montana
Butte ( ) is a consolidated city-county and the county seat of Silver Bow County, Montana, United States. In 1977, the city and county governments consolidated to form the sole entity of Butte-Silver Bow. The city covers , and, according to the ...
. He graduated from Butte High School in 1979, and enlisted in the Montana Army National Guard
The Army National Guard (ARNG), in conjunction with the Air National Guard, is an organized Militia (United States), militia force and a Reserve components of the United States Armed Forces, federal military reserve force of the United States A ...
. He began working full-time for the Guard in 1984 and received his commission upon completion of Officer Candidate School in 1987. Walsh met his wife, Janet, while attending college. They have two adult sons.
Walsh is a graduate of the Armor Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, the Combined Arms and Services Staff School, and the United States Army Command and General Staff College. He attended Carroll College
Carroll College is a private Catholic college in Helena, Montana. The college has 21 buildings on a 63-acre campus, has over 35 academic majors, participates in 15 NAIA athletic sports, and is home to All Saints Chapel. The college motto, in L ...
and received a Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science (BS, BSc, SB, or ScB; from the Latin ') is a bachelor's degree awarded for programs that generally last three to five years.
The first university to admit a student to the degree of Bachelor of Science was the University of ...
degree in political science
Political science is the scientific study of politics. It is a social science dealing with systems of governance and power, and the analysis of political activities, political thought, political behavior, and associated constitutions and la ...
from Regents College, the University of the State of New York (now Excelsior College) in 1990.
Walsh received a Master's degree in strategic studies from the United States Army War College
The United States Army War College (USAWC) is a U.S. Army educational institution in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, on the 500-acre (2 km2) campus of the historic Carlisle Barracks. It provides graduate-level instruction to senior military offic ...
in 2007. In July 2014, ''The New York Times
''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...
'', after receiving a tip from an opposition researcher working for the National Republican Senatorial Committee, reported that Walsh had plagiarized much of a 14-page strategy research paper, a requirement for the degree, with some material directly copied from sources without attribution. Walsh initially denied, then admitted to the allegations, but stated that it was not done intentionally. He claimed he was being treated for PTSD at the time[ stating, "I don't want to blame my mistake on PTSD, but I do want to say it may have been a factor."
The matter was referred to the College's Academic Review Board.]
Former governor Brian Schweitzer wrote a letter to the board in support of Walsh, who claimed the plagiarism was unintentional and that he had been on medication for PTSD at the time. On August 22, the board found that Walsh's plagiarism was "egregious" and "intentional" and that the paper was "primarily composed of verbatim liftings from other sources". The board rejected his PTSD defense, noting that other students also struggle with PTSD and other issues but don't plagiarize. An appeal filed by Walsh was denied, and on October 10, 2014 the College revoked Walsh's degree.[
]
Montana Army National Guard
Walsh served in the Montana Army National Guard
The Montana Army National Guard is a component of the United States Army and the United States National Guard. Nationwide, the Army National Guard comprises approximately one half of the US Army's available combat forces and approximately one t ...
for 33 years.[ In this capacity he led 1st Battalion, 163rd Infantry Regiment in combat in ]Iraq
Iraq,; ku, عێراق, translit=Êraq officially the Republic of Iraq, '; ku, کۆماری عێراق, translit=Komarî Êraq is a country in Western Asia. It is bordered by Turkey to Iraq–Turkey border, the north, Iran to Iran–Iraq ...
. He earned the Bronze Star Medal
The Bronze Star Medal (BSM) is a United States Armed Forces decoration awarded to members of the United States Armed Forces for either heroic achievement, heroic service, meritorious achievement, or meritorious service in a combat zone.
Wh ...
and the Combat Infantryman Badge
The Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB) is a United States Army military decoration. The badge is awarded to infantrymen and Special Forces soldiers in the rank of colonel and below, who fought in active ground combat while assigned as members of ei ...
. In 2000, he led operations of over 2,000 Guard members during Montana's wildfires.
In 2008 Walsh was appointed Adjutant General and received a state promotion to brigadier general
Brigadier general or Brigade general is a military rank used in many countries. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries. The rank is usually above a colonel, and below a major general or divisional general. When appointed ...
. He resigned in 2012 to run for Lieutenant Governor, and continued to serve as a traditional Army Guardsman (one weekend drill per month, two weeks of annual training each year). He was appointed by his successor to serve as the Montana National Guard's land component commander, and he served in this position until retiring from the National Guard in December 2012.
A 2010 Army Inspector General report concluded that Walsh used the Adjutant General's post for "private gain" by pressuring subordinates into joining the National Guard Association of the United States
The National Guard Association of the United States was founded in 1878 as a congressional lobbying organization for National Guard issues. A member of the Military Coalition, NGAUS lobbies on behalf of 45,000 officers who comprise the membership ...
in an effort to bolster Montana's membership numbers and enhance Walsh's candidacy for Vice President of NGAUS. Walsh disputed the IG's report, explaining that it stemmed from a disagreement in interpreting the rules which govern when and how Department of Defense Department of Defence or Department of Defense may refer to:
Current departments of defence
* Department of Defence (Australia)
* Department of National Defence (Canada)
* Department of Defence (Ireland)
* Department of National Defense (Philippin ...
employees can take part in activities such as running for a NGAUS leadership position. Walsh further noted that the NGAUS position was uncompensated, requiring him to travel to meetings at his own expense.[ The report prevented him from receiving federal recognition as a general officer during his tenure as Adjutant General. (Adjutants General are normally federally recognized as ]major general
Major general (abbreviated MG, maj. gen. and similar) is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. The disappearance of the "sergeant" in the title explains the apparent confusion of a ...
s in the reserve component of the Army or Air Force
An air force – in the broadest sense – is the national military branch that primarily conducts aerial warfare. More specifically, it is the branch of a nation's armed services that is responsible for aerial warfare as distinct from an a ...
, provided they meet all eligibility criteria.) News accounts indicated that Walsh received a formal letter from General
A general officer is an Officer (armed forces), officer of highest military ranks, high rank in the army, armies, and in some nations' air forces, space forces, and marines or naval infantry.
In some usages the term "general officer" refers t ...
Peter W. Chiarelli
Peter William Chiarelli (born March 23, 1950) is a retired United States Army General (United States), general who served as the 32nd Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Army from August 4, 2008 to January 31, 2012. He also served as commande ...
, then the Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Army, in which Chiarelli reminded Walsh of his obligation to remain impartial in his dealings with non-federal entities, such as NGAUS.[
Former Governor Brian Schweitzer said that when he received the report in 2010, he considered it "much ado about nothing."] Contemporary news accounts indicated that Schweitzer wrote to Chiarelli to state his confidence in Walsh's integrity and abilities, and to urge his promotion to the federally recognized general officer ranks.
Lieutenant Governor of Montana
In March 2012, Attorney General and presumptive Democratic gubernatorial nominee Steve Bullock Steve, Steven, or Stephen Bullock may refer to:
*Steve Bullock (British politician) (born 1953), first directly elected mayor of the London Borough of Lewisham
*Steve Bullock (American politician) (born 1966), 24th Governor of Montana (2013–2021) ...
selected Walsh to be his running mate. The pair won the Democratic primary with 87% of the vote. In the general election, Bullock and Walsh defeated their Republican opponents, former Congressman Rick Hill
Richard Hill (born December 30, 1946) is an American politician and businessman who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from Montana. He was the Republican nominee for Governor of Montana in 2012.
Early life and e ...
and his running mate, State Senator Jon Sonju
Jon Sonju (born December 26, 1975) is a former member of the Montana Senate. He is a Republican from Senate District 4, representing Kalispell, Montana
Kalispell (, Montana Salish: Ql̓ispé, Kutenai language: kqayaqawakⱡuʔnam) is a ci ...
, by 49% to 47%.
They assumed office in January 2013 upon the expiration of the term of Governor Schweitzer and Lieutenant Governor John Bohlinger
John Bohlinger, Jr. (born April 21, 1936) is an American businessman and politician who served as the 33rd Lieutenant Governor of Montana from 2005 to 2013. He ran for the office as a Republican on a bipartisan ticket headed by Democratic guber ...
.
U.S. Senate
Appointment
In December 2013, President Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II ( ; born August 4, 1961) is an American politician who served as the 44th president of the United States from 2009 to 2017. A member of the Democratic Party, Obama was the first African-American president of the U ...
nominated retiring United States Senator Max Baucus to be the next United States Ambassador to China
The United States Ambassador to China is the chief United States, American United States Ambassador, diplomat to China, People's Republic of China (PRC). The United States has sent diplomatic representatives to China since 1844, when Caleb Cush ...
.
On February 6, 2014, Baucus was confirmed and resigned his Senate seat. On February 9, Governor Bullock appointed Walsh to serve the remainder of Baucus's Senate term, and Walsh resigned as Lieutenant Governor. He was sworn in on February 11, taking the oath from Vice President
A vice president, also director in British English, is an officer in government or business who is below the president (chief executive officer) in rank. It can also refer to executive vice presidents, signifying that the vice president is on t ...
Joe Biden.
Committee assignments
* Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry
** Subcommittee on Commodities, Markets, Trade and Risk Management
** Subcommittee on Conservation, Forestry and Natural Resources
** Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, Poultry, Marketing and Agriculture Security
* Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
* Committee on Rules and Administration
* Special Committee on Aging
Legislative work
Walsh supported passage of the Native Language Immersion Student Achievement Act and reauthorization of the Native American Languages Act of 1990. "Preserving Native languages is essential to improving education for tribal nations", he said. Along with six other Democratic senators, Walsh co-sponsored the Small Business Tax Credits Accessibility Act, which was introduced in the House of Representatives on February 28.
He and Republican congressman Steve Daines supported the North Fork Watershed Protection Act of 2013, which proposed to "protect both sides of the Flathead River drainage from energy and mineral development". The bill passed in the House, but Senate Republicans prevented it from being voted on, killing it in the Senate. He asked Congress to support the Keystone Pipeline
The Keystone Pipeline System is an oil pipeline system in Canada and the United States, commissioned in 2010 and owned by TC Energy and as of 31 March 2020 the Government of Alberta. It runs from the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin in Albert ...
and proposed to leave infrastructure decisions to the State Department, instead of the President. He supported extending the tax credit for wind energy, and passing the Medicare Protection Act. Along with many Democrats and one Independent, he supported the Paycheck Fairness Act.
On June 18, 2014, in a speech before the Senate, he urged the U.S. should react with "extreme caution" to events in Iraq. He spoke briefly about his experiences as an infantry officer there, and urged other Congressmen to consider the ongoing impacts of war in their decision. On July 8, 2014, Walsh introduced the Bring Jobs Home Act (S. 2569; 113th Congress), a bill that would amend the Internal Revenue Code
The Internal Revenue Code (IRC), formally the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, is the domestic portion of federal statutory tax law in the United States, published in various volumes of the United States Statutes at Large, and separately as Title 26 ...
to grant business taxpayers a tax credit for up to 20% of insourcing expenses incurred for eliminating a business located outside the United States and relocating it within the United States, and deny a tax deduction for outsourcing
Outsourcing is an agreement in which one company hires another company to be responsible for a planned or existing activity which otherwise is or could be carried out internally, i.e. in-house, and sometimes involves transferring employees and ...
expenses incurred in relocating a U.S. business outside the United States.
Harry Reid praised him for his military service and efforts to prevent suicide among veterans.
2014 election
On October 3, 2013, Walsh announced his intention to run for the seat of retiring Senator Max Baucus. On February 9, 2014, Walsh was appointed to replace Baucus in the Senate after Baucus stepped down early to become U.S. Ambassador to China, making Walsh the incumbent in the race. Rancher Dirk Adams and former Montana Lieutenant Governor John Bohlinger
John Bohlinger, Jr. (born April 21, 1936) is an American businessman and politician who served as the 33rd Lieutenant Governor of Montana from 2005 to 2013. He ran for the office as a Republican on a bipartisan ticket headed by Democratic guber ...
also ran for the Democratic nomination.[
Walsh was endorsed by Governor Bullock, Senator Jon Tester, and former Senator Baucus, an arrangement which was criticized by his opponent as being "politically motivated", designed to give Walsh an advantage in the election by making him an incumbent, which would aid fundraising efforts. Walsh defeated Adams and Bohlinger in the June 3, 2014 primary election. Republican Congressman Steve Daines defeated two other candidates in the Republican primary and would have been Walsh's opponent in the general election.] Walsh was endorsed by the Planned Parenthood Action Fund
The Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Inc. (PPFA), or simply Planned Parenthood, is a nonprofit organization that provides reproductive health care in the United States and globally. It is a tax-exempt corporation under Internal Reven ...
.
When ''The New York Times'' reported in July 2014 that Walsh had plagiarized a 2007 paper he submitted at the United States Army War College
The United States Army War College (USAWC) is a U.S. Army educational institution in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, on the 500-acre (2 km2) campus of the historic Carlisle Barracks. It provides graduate-level instruction to senior military offic ...
, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee continued to back Walsh. The '' Missoulian'', the '' Billings Gazette'', and the Bozeman
Bozeman is a city and the county seat of Gallatin County, Montana, United States. Located in southwest Montana, the 2020 census put Bozeman's population at 53,293, making it the fourth-largest city in Montana. It is the principal city of th ...
-area ''Montana Pioneer'' published editorials calling for Walsh to end his candidacy. Walsh's campaign was criticized for its response,[ after which the campaign acknowledged it had made an "unintentional mistake" by stating Walsh had "survived hundreds of IED explosions". They clarified that this figure applied to his unit, while Walsh personally survived one attack.]
Walsh dropped out of the race on August 7, 2014, resulting in the Montana state Democratic Central Committee selecting State Representative Amanda Curtis
Amanda Gayle Curtis ( née Morse, born September 10, 1979) is an American politician who serves as the president of the Montana Federation of Public Employees (MFPE), Montana's largest labor union.
Curtis served in the Montana House of Represe ...
as Walsh's replacement. In October 2014, the National Republican Senatorial Committee revealed that a researcher on its staff had found the plagiarism and leaked it to ''The New York Times''.
In the November 2014 general election Republican Steve Daines defeated Curtis 57.9% to 40.0%.
Post-Senate career
In February 2016 a spokesperson for the United States Department of Agriculture
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is the United States federal executive departments, federal executive department responsible for developing and executing federal laws related to farming, forestry, rural economic development, ...
announced that Walsh had been appointed state director of Montana's USDA Rural Development office. In 2017, Walsh was succeeded by Charles Robison, who had been chief of staff for Congressman Greg Gianforte
Gregory Richard Gianforte (born April 17, 1961) is an American businessman, politician, software engineer, and writer serving as the 25th governor of Montana since 2021. A member of the Republican Party, Gianforte served as the U.S. representa ...
. Walsh then joined a Helena-based company to pursue a fulltime career in real estate sales.
References
External links
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Walsh, John
1960 births
Living people
United States Army personnel of the Iraq War
Democratic Party United States senators from Montana
Excelsior College alumni
Lieutenant Governors of Montana
Montana Democrats
Montana National Guard personnel
National Guard (United States) generals
Politicians from Butte, Montana
People involved in plagiarism controversies
United States Army Command and General Staff College alumni
United States Army War College alumni
21st-century American politicians