James L. Ward, Esq.

 Mr. James L. Ward serves as the Executive Director, Office of the Chief of Police, Office of Operations, Security and Preparedness. He was sworn into office by the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) on February 28, 2021. Mr. Ward is the principal advisor to the Assistant Secretary, HRA/OSP and other VA key officials on matters pertaining to physical security, law enforcement training and operations. He is responsible for the leadership and management of the VA’s Law Enforcement Training Center (LETC), a Franchise Fund Enterprise Center, that provides basic and advanced training to VA Police Officers and Department of the Air Force Civilian Police personnel.

Prior to assuming his current role, Mr. Ward served as the Director of the VA Law Enforcement Training Center. He was responsible for the development of VA’s nationwide training policy for Departmental VA Police Officers and overall management of the LETC. While Director of LETC, he was appointed, and continues to serve, as the Chair of the Federal Law Enforcement Training Accreditation Board. Mr. Ward joined VA in June 2003 as a Criminal Investigator/Training Instructor at the VA LETC. His 28 years of law enforcement experience includes patrol duties, criminal/administrative investigations, and undercover vice and narcotics. Before retiring from the Arkansas State Police, he was assigned to the Highway Patrol Division, Criminal Investigation Division, SWAT and Internal Affairs. His military career spanned over 6 years in the United States Army, where he was an M-1 Abrams Main Battle Tank Crewman.

 Mr. Ward currently serves as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Arkansas (UA) at Little Rock. He is a licensed attorney of 17 years and is permitted to practice in the United States Eastern and Western District Courts of Arkansas. He is a graduate of the Criminal Justice Institute School of Law Enforcement Supervision. In 2002, Mr. Ward was the recipient of the Trooper’s Cross Award for Bravery and Valor, the 2nd Highest Award in the Arkansas State Police. He is a two-time Nominee for Trooper of the Year with the Arkansas State Police. His other awards and honors include being named the Tri-County Drug Task Force Detective of the Year, Trooper of the Year for the National Black State Troopers Coalition – Louis Bryant Chapter, and Community Faculty Member of the Year for the College of Professional Studies at the UA at Little Rock.