CAROLEE WALKER

Carolee Belkin Walker serves as the Chief of Staff (CoS) to Ambassador Roger D. Carstens, the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs (SPEHA), a position she has held since January 2020. Her distinguished career at the U.S. Department of State includes leadership positions in the Bureau of Consular Affairs, Bureau of Global Public Affairs, Bureau of Legislative Affairs, and a rotation as a Senior Watch Officer in the State Department's Operations Center.

Professional Writing and Athletic Achievements

Despite her demanding schedule as a CoS, Walker maintains her passion for writing and endurance training. As a featured contributor for GovLoop – the federal government's internal blog for civil service employees – she shared insights on leadership, mentoring, and career development.

Walker discovered her love for distance running in her 50s, achieving significant milestones including:

Completing the Reggae Marathon in Negril, Jamaica (2015)

Finishing the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington, D.C. (2017)

Her expertise in fitness and aging has made her a valued contributor to numerous prestigious publications, including:

The Washington Post

Women's Running

Prevention Magazine

ThriveGlobal

Huffington Post

In these publications, Walker regularly interviews scientists, sports medicine specialists, and athletes, focusing on training methodologies and the science of aging. This body of work culminated in the publication of her book, Getting My Bounce Back (2018).

Walker resides in Chevy Chase, Maryland, with her husband.

The views expressed here are her own and do not represent the views of the U.S Department of State or the U.S. government.