West Huddleston

West Huddleston is the Chief Executive Officer of the National Association of Drug Court Professionals (NADCP), located in the Nation’s Capitol. Prior to being appointed CEO in 2006, Mr. Huddleston served as the first Deputy Director and then Director of NADCP’s professional services branch, the National Drug Court Institute (NDCI), for nine years.

Mr. Huddleston is regarded as a pioneer in drug courts and other alternative sentencing strategies having spent more than a decade providing vision and leadership throughout the world, furthering the movement and its impact on the addict, the family and the community. During his eleven years of service at NADCP, Mr. Huddleston has authored 16 publications and briefs; testified before U.S. Congress, numerous state legislatures, and international parliaments; been interviewed repeatedly by radio, television, and print media on topics related to alternative sentencing, alcohol and other drug abuse/dependence, drug policy, crime and public safety; and delivered over 450 keynote speeches in forty-four states and eight countries.

Prior to his work at NADCP/NDCI, Mr. Huddleston worked for eight years as a board-licensed clinician with misdemeanor and felony offenders at the county, state and federal level. During this period, Mr. Huddleston worked throughout the Tennessee and Oklahoma justice systems to develop, implement and operate numerous offender-specific, in-custody and community mental health and substance abuse treatment programs. Mr. Huddleston served as the director of two community corrections programs and as the director of a 125-bed pre-release correctional center. In addition, he co-designed the first two drug courts in the State of Oklahoma, one of which served as an early mentor court for the U.S. Department of Justice.

Mr. Huddleston serves as an advisor and/or consultant to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the Organization of American States (OAS) and as a distinguished faculty member of the National Judicial College. Mr. Huddleston has won numerous awards throughout his life; most recently the 2008 U.S. Congressional Horizon Award for his lifelong dedication to bettering communities throughout the nation and the 2008 America Honors Recovery Award from the Johnson Institute for his service to those suffering with addiction.