Orin Ethics Symposium

Dr. Patrick M. Walsh

Admiral U.S. Navy (Retired), Former Commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, President of Christo Rey Dallas 

“Ethical Leadership: Insights from the Command Center to the Boardroom”

Dr. Walsh achieved the rank of 4-star Admiral and served as Vice Chief of Naval Operations (VCNO) and as Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet (COMPACFLT). He received the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun (one of Japan’s highest honors) for his work leading Operation Tomodachi, the U.S. assistance operation to support Japan after the 2011 earthquake. Walsh has been a transformational leader at the very highest levels in the Navy, business, and education, and he will be speaking with us about the intersections of ethics and successful leadership during great challenges. 

Dr. Walsh attended graduate studies in the International Relations curriculum at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University. Walsh graduated first in his class and received a Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy degree. He then entered the Doctorate Program with distinction and subsequently received a Ph.D.

Walsh began flying with the "Golden Dragons" of Attack Squadron 192, and was selected into the Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, "Blue Angels". Walsh was a Special Assistant to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget as a White House Fellow. He chaired the Department of Leadership, Ethics and Law at the U.S. Naval Academy, served as the Executive Assistant to the Chief of Naval Personnel, and reported to the Joint Staff for his first flag assignment as the Deputy Director for Strategy and Policy. 

After retiring from the military, Dr. Walsh was vice president of The Boeing Company, the senior vice president and general manager at iSIGHT Partners, and president of Strategic Programs with Academic Partnerships LLC. He also co-founded The First Watch Group, which provides transformation, turnaround, business development, due diligence, and coaching services. Most recently, Dr. Walsh was appointed as the President of Cristo Rey Dallas, a Catholic college prep high school where he is leading the development of innovative models of college preparatory education for students with limited economic resources.