South Carolina H 5698: James T. Ham

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 5698 Text of Previous Version (May. 13, 2026) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 5698

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

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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.

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This web page was last updated on May 13, 2026 at 11:03 AM