Baum, who teaches a class at McCourt called ‘The War on Drugs: Causes, Consequences and Alternatives,’ is a policy expert who has worked for nearly 20 years in numerous strategic and leadership roles at the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP). His tenure at ONDCP has spanned four administrations.
“I am deeply honored to have been designated by President Trump to serve as Acting Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy,” Baum said in a White House press release. “In my two decades of service at ONDCP, I’ve seen the heart-breaking suffering caused by illegal drugs, as well as the incredible work of dedicated individuals working to address drug abuse and its consequences. I look forward to continuing that work.”
Baum’s experience also includes working as a Hill staffer, a writer and researcher on criminal justice policy, and as a coordinator of a local non-profit’s community policing project.