Jim Walker’s Final Month at AAPA Government Relations

AAPA celebrates the long career of Jim Walker, Director of Navigation Policy and Legislation, as he retires from the workforce. Jim is responsible for handling waterside infrastructure issues and relevant legislative and regulatory matters, including AAPA’s Quality Partnership Initiative (QPI) with the Army Corps of Engineers. He also serves as staff liaison to the Harbors and Navigation Committee. Following a 36-year career with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jim’s responsibilities at AAPA are considerable and include AAPA’s efforts to improve navigation policies, legislation and funding. He was instrumental in forwarding Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund (HMTF) legislation and proper tax allocation, collaborating with national and regional navigation support organizations for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers funding requests, which helped HMTF funding nearly triple from $800 million in 2013 to $2.32 billion in 2023. Jim’s work for AAPA is invaluable and he will be sorely missed. Jim would like to thank Harbors and Navigation Committee members, dedicated Congressional staffers, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers leaders, AAPA staff and the AAPA Government Relations team, as he transitions into retirement.