Professional Affiliation

Executive Director, Arctic Executive Steering Committee, Office of Science & Technology Policy, White House; former Senior Fellow, Polar Institute, Wilson Center

Expert Bio

David Balton served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Oceans and Fisheries in the Department of State, attaining the rank of Ambassador in 2006. He coordinated U.S. foreign policy concerning oceans and fisheries, as well as issues relating to the Arctic and Antarctica, and oversaw U.S. participation in international organizations dealing with these issues. Ambassador Balton functioned as the lead U.S. negotiator on a wide range of agreements and chaired numerous international meetings. During the U.S. Chairmanship of the Arctic Council (2015-2017), he served as Chair of the Senior Arctic Officials. He also co-chaired Arctic Council Task Forces that produced the 2011 Arctic Search and Rescue Agreement and the 2013 Arctic Oil Pollution Agreement. He separately chaired negotiations to produce an Arctic fisheries agreement. Ambassador Balton received an A.B. from Harvard College and a J.D. from Georgetown University. He appeared with the National Symphony Orchestra (juggling oranges).

Wilson Center Project

Focusing on new policy options for governing the Arctic Region, proposing concrete steps to safeguard fragile Arctic ecosystems, and assessing lessons learned from the Antarctic Treaty system.

Project Summary

Balton will focus on new policy options for governing the Arctic Region, propose concrete steps to safeguard fragile Arctic ecosystems, and assess lessons learned from the Antarctic Treaty system.

Major Publications

Balton, David A. and Thomas, Cari, Ocean Governance in the High North, Proceedings of the U.S. Naval Institute (2013)

 

Balton, David A., Making the New Rules Work: Implementation of the Global Fisheries Instruments, in Current Fisheries Issues and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (Nordquist and Moore, eds.) (2000)

 

Balton, “Strengthening the Law of the Sea: The New Agreement on Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks,” 27 Ocean Development and International Law 125 (1996)