Chris has 20 years of combined experience as an international rule of law development professional, project manager, and practicing legal aid attorney. He has worked in the field on a long-term basis in Afghanistan and the Republic of Palau and has provided rule of law technical expertise to justice sector projects in eastern Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia-Pacific regions. As Business Development Director for Tetra Tech, he oversaw the development and management of the firm’s business development strategies, directed the development and execution of capture plans, and led the development of technical proposals for contracts, cooperative agreements, and grants. He supported the firm’s diversification strategy and championed a comprehensive plan to standardized business development processes and procedures for new business development. He also provided lead project management to rule of law projects in Kosovo and Iraq. His technical skills include lead technical writing, contract and grant management, institutional assessments, program design and management, and legal outreach and advocacy. Earlier in his career, Chris worked as a public interest attorney representing death row inmates and serving as a trial attorney in hundreds of criminal cases.
As Tetra Tech’s Business Development Director, Chris led the development of technical approaches and activities for Rule of Law, Anti-Corruption, and Human Rights projects funded by USAID, Department of State (INL and DRL bureaus), DFID, and other donors. He developed and maintained relationships with institutional partners, donors, and multi-lateral organizations and helped grow annual revenue from $32m in 2016 to $44m in 2019.
Previously, as the Senior Program Manager at Checchi and Company Consulting, Chris led proposal development activities, including in-country research, strategy development, and served as lead technical author for USAID-funded rule of law projects awarded in Moldova, Kosovo, Afghanistan, Liberia, and Mali. He also served as interim Chief of Party in Afghanistan.
As the Senior Regional Justice Advisor, Rule of Law Stabilization-Informal Component, USAID/Afghanistan and Senior Legal Advisor, Afghanistan Rule of Law Project, USAID/Afghanistan, Chris supervised a technical and administrative staff of over 30 Afghan nationals. He developed activities aimed at providing better access to justice mechanisms for women, including a program that supported and trained women in conflict resolution and served as Acting Chief of Party. He also served as international advisor to the Afghan Ministry of Justice to create a standardized public defender and legal aid system and to improve access to justice for all Afghans.
Early in his career, Chris served as Assistant Attorney General in the Office of the Attorney General in the Republic of Palau where he provided legal advice and opinions to the President, Vice President, and Ministers of the executive branch of government. He drafted new legislation prohibiting human trafficking and prosecuted the Pacific’s first human trafficking case. He also drafted a new criminal code introduced by the executive branch to the legislature and taught criminal law and procedure to college students and law enforcement recruits.
Chris holds B.A. degree in Political Science from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and J.D. from DePaul University College of Law.