Jim Swigert is senior associate and regional director of Latin American and Caribbean programs at the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI). Since joining NDI in 2005, Mr. Swigert has designed and implemented political party strengthening, civic organizing, parliamentary development and election monitoring programs in a dozen countries throughout the region. Before coming to the Institute, Mr. Swigert spent 30 years as a career diplomat with the U.S. Department of State, during which time he served at embassies in Latin America and Europe. Mr. Swigert also served as principal deputy assistant secretary of state in the Bureau of International Organization Affairs and deputy assistant secretary of state for Southeast and Central Europe. He holds a B.A. from Princeton University and a Masters degree from the National Defense University, where he also taught courses regarding conflict prevention and international relations as a visiting professor.