Forty Under 40: Bob Balfe

Bob Balfe started his career in radio, earning his bachelors degree in broadcast news in 1990 from Arkansas State University in Jonesboro.

While working in broadcast news, the Ash Flat native found himself intrigued by current events. That got him interested in law. In 1992, he enrolled in the School of Law at the University of Arkansas and worked at the Washington County Prosecuting Attorneys office.

After he finished law school in 1995, Balfe took a job as deputy prosecutor in Benton County. During his 10-year stint at the Benton County office, Balfe moved up as chief deputy prosecutor and in 2000 was elected prosecuting attorney.

He served in that position until 2004, when he was sworn in as U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas in Fort Smith. But Balfe chose to stay in Northwest Arkansas, living in Bella Vista and driving to Fort Smith for work.

Balfe said his greatest motivation is that as a prosecutor he has the ability to affect lives in a positive way by fighting crime and drugs in communities.

As a U.S. Attorney, he cant serve on any private organizations, but he has previously been involved in the Bentonville Rotary Club and the Childrens Advocacy Center in Benton County.