Erik Leklem is the Country Director for Western Hemisphere Affairs in the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD). Over the last seven years Erik has served in a variety of homeland defense, strategy, and planning positions within the Department of Defense, to in include assignments elsewhere in OSD, at U.S. Pacific Command and with the Department of the Navy. Previously, he worked in the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, with the Arms Control Association, and in the office of Senator Mark O. Hatfield. He was a defense policy advisor to the Kerry/Edwards 2004 campaign and a campaign worker for Representative Peter DeFazio. From Wisconsin, Oregon and Maryland, he is a graduate of University of Maryland (Masters of Public Policy) and the University of Oregon (Bachelor of Arts, Political Science & English).