A house RESOLUTION

 

TO HONOR AND RECOGNIZE JAMES T. HAM FOR HIS MANY YEARS OF DISTINGUISHED SERVICE TO THE UNITED STATES FEDERAL SERVICE AND HIS UNWAVERING DEDICATION TO HIS COMMUNITY.

 

Whereas, James T. Ham was raised in South Carolina and educated in the Darlington County school district. He began his career of service after high school as a petty officer in the United States Navy, VA-65 at the Naval Air Station Oceana; and

 

Whereas, he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Education from North Carolina Central University, a Master of Arts degree in International Education from American University, and is currently a doctoral candidate in the executive leadership program at the University of Charleston. He is also bilingual in English and French; and

 

Whereas, Mr. Ham retired from the United States Federal Service in 2023, after an extraordinary thirty-four-year career spanning the United States Navy, the Peace Corps, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Throughout his career, he provided strategic leadership for international programs across public health, education, agriculture, and small enterprise development, overseeing policy implementation, crisis response, and mission advancement throughout Africa and beyond; and

 

Whereas, during his distinguished career, he directed programs in Africa, Europe, and the Caribbean. He served as the country director for the Peace Corps in South Africa, Uganda, and Cameroon, and later led public health initiatives for the CDC in Guinea, Côte d'Ivoire, and Zambia. Building on his service as a returned Peace Corps volunteer in Guinea from 1996 to 1998, Mr. Ham became a respected global leader known for advancing international volunteerism, cross-cultural partnerships, and servant leadership. He also played key leadership roles in the Ebola response efforts in West Africa and directed multiple emergency evacuation missions across the African continent; and

 

Whereas, Mr. Ham is the founder of Koba Leadership, an executive leadership coaching firm focused on developing principled, globally minded leaders. A proud veteran and passionate advocate for servant leadership, Mr. Ham has been consistently recognized for his dedication to international volunteerism and ethical leadership; and

 

Whereas, he is an alumnus of several prestigious leadership development programs, including the University of Denver International Career Advancement Program in 2004, the Harvard University Senior Executive Fellows Program in 2018, the African American Federal Executives Program in 2019, and the American University Key Executive Leadership Program in 2020; and

 

Whereas, Mr. Ham is a 2026-2027 Fulbright International Education Administrators (IEA) Awardee. This prestigious award, specifically designated for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) leaders, recognizes his dedication to international education and cross-cultural leadership; and

 

Whereas, the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives value the dedication and service that James T. Ham has given to his community, to the United States Navy, to the Peace Corps, to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and to the Palmetto State. Now, therefore,

 

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

 

That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, honor and recognize James T. Ham for his many years of distinguished service to the United States Federal Service and his unwavering dedication to his community.

 

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to James T. Ham.

----XX----