▁and ▁the ▁Car ib bean ▁of ▁the ▁US ▁Agency ▁for ▁International ▁Development ▁from ▁ 1 9 7 7 – 1 9 7 9 ; ▁General ▁Coun sel ▁for ▁the ▁Inter - American ▁Foundation ▁from ▁ 1 9 7 3 – 1 9 7 5 ; ▁and ▁an ▁att orney ▁for ▁the ▁O verse as ▁Private ▁In vest ment ▁Corporation ▁from ▁ 1 9 7 1 – 1 9 7 3 . ▁During ▁his ▁military ▁service , ▁he ▁served ▁as ▁a ▁military ▁a ide ▁to ▁President ▁Ly nd on ▁B . ▁Johnson . ▁ ▁Amb assador ▁Val de z ▁is ▁recognized ▁as ▁one ▁of ▁the ▁original ▁pro ponents ▁and ▁an ▁architect ▁of ▁the ▁North ▁American ▁Free ▁Trade ▁Ag re ement . ▁and ▁of ▁a ▁Western ▁Hem is phere ▁Free ▁Trade ▁Area , ▁and ▁served ▁as ▁an ▁ad visor ▁on ▁the ▁N AF TA ▁negoti ations . ▁He ▁received ▁his ▁LL . M . ▁degree ▁from ▁Harvard ▁Law ▁School , ▁J . D . ▁degree ▁from ▁Bay lor ▁Law ▁School ▁and ▁a ▁B . S . ▁degree ▁in ▁civil ▁engineering ▁from ▁Texas ▁A & M ▁University . ▁He ▁also ▁purs ued ▁gradu ate ▁studies ▁in ▁international ▁law ▁at ▁The ▁H ague ▁Academy ▁of ▁International ▁Law ▁in ▁The ▁Netherlands . ▁Val de z ▁served ▁as ▁an ▁editor ▁of ▁the ▁Harvard ▁International ▁Law ▁Journal . ▁He ▁has ▁lect ured ▁and ▁written ▁extens ively ▁on ▁international ▁trade ▁and ▁invest ment ▁issues ▁and ▁US - Lat in ▁American ▁relations ▁and ▁has ▁been ▁a ▁visit ing ▁lect urer ▁or ▁visit